This is a description of the strategies employed to assess whether the collection, as a whole, is effectively fulfilling its intended purpose.
Weeding of materials is recognized as essential to maintaining a balanced collection of materials in all formats. Incidental weeding to eliminate obsolete, worn out, or irreparably damaged materials is a continuous process. Systematic collection analysis to eliminate materials for lack of value or use is a shared responsibility among librarians, who consult with faculty members as necessary. The Conspectus report is run once every three years for useful statistical data regarding the age and use of the collection.
All materials withdrawn from collections are first officially declared discarded and then are disposed of by legally prescribed means.
Replacement of stolen, lost, damaged, and unreturned material is not made if comparable material, particularly more recent material, is adequately available to meet needs. If the need for a particular item is critical, it is replaced at once, funds permitting; otherwise, a waiting period of at least one year is observed in order to allow time for possible return or location of missing items.
Gifts are appreciated and encouraged with the stipulation that donations in all formats must be subject to evaluation and disposition according to selection policies generally applicable to materials under consideration for acquisition. Gifts are accepted with the understanding that they may be discarded on the same basis and in the same manner as other materials are discarded. Library staff may request a general description of the content and size of the donation before materials are brought to the Library. By law, Library staff may not assign value to gifts; this must be done by the donor. The Library writes the donor a letter of acknowledgement which is dated and which itemizes the number of hardback and paperback items received.
The Pearl A. Wanamaker Library uses OCLC's resource sharing network, WorldShare Interlibrary Loan, to borrow and lend resources. Using this network allows TCC students, faculty, and staff to request materials that the Pearl A. Wanamaker Library does not own in print or subscribe to electronically.
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