Collection Development - Introduction

The purpose of this document is to establish the library's collection management objectives, to assign responsibility for development of the collections, to delineate methods by which the collections are developed, to describe the role of services providing access to information, and to provide for the maintenance of the collections.

The Jim Dan Hill Library directly serves the faculty, students, and staff of the University of Wisconsin--Superior. More broadly, the library serves the communities of Superior and Douglas County, Duluth, Minnesota, and the State of Wisconsin.

The Select Mission of the University of Wisconsin—Superior: The University of Wisconsin-Superior fosters intellectual growth and career preparation within a liberal arts tradition that emphasizes individual attention and embodies respect for diverse cultures and multiple voices.

(UW-Superior Staff Handbook, 2003.)

The library's mission, as it relates to collection management, is subordinate to the mission of the campus. The library's mission is:

The Library at the University of Wisconsin-Superior serves as a gateway to the world of information and knowledge. Through information literacy, the Library becomes an active participant in the teaching and scholarly activities of UW-Superior supporting and encouraging learning and the development of life-span critical thinking skills. The Library provides a nurturing environment where the UW-Superior community can pursue individual educational and career goals within the liberal arts tradition.

The goals of collection management and development in the library are:

1. To develop a collection which reflects present needs and anticipates those of the future. These resources will serve both the research and general needs of its primary users, the undergraduates, the graduate students, and the teaching and research staff.
2. To provide collection management procedures which fulfill the needs of these primary users and the University staff.
3. To provide for cost-effective acquisition and retrieval of resources.
4. To avoid unnecessary duplication.
5. To extend the availability of resources and services throughout the state and Twin Ports area economically by coordinating selection and acquisition with other institutions and agencies, and cooperating in the development of area, regional and state networks or systems.