Duplicates
Duplicates in print are not normally purchased. Duplicate materials will be added to the collection if warranted by heavy usage of copies already held by the Library.
Contemporary Literature
The Library will attempt to purchase titles receiving major literary recognition. This includes awards such as the National Book Awards for Poetry & Fiction, National Book Critics Circle Awards for Poetry & Fiction, New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction, Poetry and Drama.
Local and regional writers, whose works are favorably reviewed and/or meet other selection criteria, will be represented in the Library's collection.
Textbooks
Some heavily used and very expensive textbooks are purchased when special funds are available. Ordinarily, textbooks are not purchased unless they happen to fit other criteria listed above. Instructors are encouraged to place extra copies of textbooks on reserve for students whose financial aid is late in coming or who cannot afford the textbooks at all.
Self-help and Laymen’s Medical Books
Books on individual conditions and diseases are rarely purchased, due to the sheer number of possible titles and the lack of funds to keep such titles updated. However, general health and wellness titles, including self-help books, are purchased in support of HD and HSP courses and for students who may not be able to use a public library. Faculty counselors are consulted regarding topics of highest interest/need.
Test Preparation Guides
The Library purchases study guides for the GED and for Washington state and national professional/technical examinations associated with the programs offered at TCC.
Paperbacks
To keep costs down, paperbacks rather than hard bound volumes are generally purchased when available. Reinforced covers, at a small additional prince, will be ordered as judged necessary. Exceptions are items judged to be heavily used, especially certain reference items.
Foreign Language Materials
Acquisition of foreign language materials is generally limited to dictionaries and other general reference tools. Other pertinent materials in foreign languages are represented in English language translations.
Advanced Research Materials
In general, materials suitable for advanced levels of research are acquired only as needed for institutional purposes. Except as they can be served through interlibrary loan, faculty members and others pursuing graduate studies or otherwise engaged in non-institutional research projects are referred to university libraries for such materials.
Faculty Requested Film
For faculty-requested films, DVDs are the preferred format for face-to-face courses. If available, streaming video will be considered for purchase for online and hybrid courses.
Periodicals
Criteria for selection of individual periodical titles and periodical databases
Adding Subscriptions
The person(s) making the request will be asked to confer with their colleagues and provide the librarians with a departmental/division recommendation. The librarians will gladly provide information as to current subscription costs and indexing. The intention is to control subscription expenditures while attempting to meet the changing needs of the college and its programs.
Donations of periodicals
Occasionally, faculty members or community residents offer to donate periodicals to the Library. These may include back issues as well as ongoing subscriptions. The Library staff always appreciates such gestures of generosity. However, at times we must turn them down. The following is a consideration in determining our response to such offers:
The Library accepts as needed loose copies of back issues of periodicals to which it subscribes. (We may accept more than needed but reserve the right to recycle what we cannot use.)
Re-evaluation of Materials
Because evaluation for selection involves subjective judgment, opinions may differ as to the usefulness and merits of materials acquired. Any student, faculty member, staff member, or adult citizen of the community who seriously questions the inclusion of a particular item in the print or non-print collection may call for a re-evaluation of that item. In the process of re-evaluation, the Pearl A. Wanamaker Library will adhere to the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries. The following procedures are established to provide a systematic and objective re-evaluation process:
Except where otherwise noted, the content in these guides by Tacoma Community College Library is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0.
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Tacoma Community College Library - Building 7, 6501 South 19th Street, Tacoma, WA 98466 - P. 253.566.5087
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