The collection of the Mount Holyoke College Library is grounded in the College’s curriculum and serves the interrelated needs of student learning and faculty teaching.
We adopt a broad perspective on the curriculum, encompassing not only course content but also college initiatives and programs. Likewise, our definition of the collection is expansive, including traditional print books and journals, as well as purchased and licensed electronic resources, streaming multimedia, and Open Access materials. This policy outlines the principles, values, and practices guiding the development and maintenance of the collection.
A library's collection and its associated practices reflect the values of both the library and its parent institution. At Mount Holyoke, our curricular focus underscores our core commitment to teaching and learning. In line with this mission, we strive to cultivate a collection that encompasses diverse voices, particularly from identities that have historically been underrepresented in academia, and the academic freedom to explore multiple perspectives.
Principles of selection
LITS librarians make collection development and purchasing decisions that align with the College's mission and the collection's objectives, available funding, and the evolving needs of our community. To achieve this, we:
- Prioritize the purchase of materials that support the curriculum and will likely be used repeatedly and by multiple users, based on connection and relevance to courses and other learning opportunities.
- View the consortial collection of the Five College libraries as a single shared collection, and therefore minimize duplication in holdings for materials where access is readily available to the Mount Holyoke community.
- Generally purchase titles in only one format
- Books needed for course Reserves are purchased as unlimited user ebooks whenever possible.
- Books for the general collection are typically purchased as print books to allow for sharing within the Five Colleges and through Interlibrary Loan.
- Journal subscriptions are electronic whenever available with the exception of a browsing collection of magazines.
- Purchase items that become part of the collection, can be used across the community, and have continuing access.
- Add subscriptions and other ongoing resources in combination with a review of current commitments.
- Consider the demand on versus the availability of staff time when weighing alternative purchase methods; for example, packages versus large lists of individual titles, approval plans that define thoughtful criteria for automatic purchase
- Assess accessibility of electronic delivery platforms and include language in purchase agreements to maximize access to all library materials for all our users
Methods of Selection
Librarian Selection
- Librarians select current and retrospective print monographs based on the principles described above, their knowledge of the curriculum, and in conversation with faculty.
Approval plans
- Mount Holyoke participates in a shared approval plan of university press titles with Amherst and Smith Colleges and UMass Amherst, which places titles by major academic publishers in at least one of the libraries
- Faculty monographs are delivered through the Library’s primary book vendor, and are placed on display in the Reading Room.
- Approval plans for selected disciplines result in automatic purchases when thoughtful criteria including curricular relevance, intended audience, publisher reputation, and currency are met.
Purchase Requests
- Members of the Mount Holyoke community may make book purchase requests at any time. We will purchase a print copy unless an ebook edition is requested and is available.
- Librarians are available to work with all faculty to build collections that support their teaching and curricular goals. This includes newly appointed faculty and faculty teaching new courses.
Reserves
- Titles requested for Reserves or listed in my.mtholyoke as required texts are purchased as ebooks, when available.
- A print copy is purchased when an unlimited ebook edition is not available, or when the cost is significant. If a reserve title is significantly more expensive than comparative items, LITS will reach out to the faculty member to discuss options.
- Films are purchased or licensed for Reserves. Whenever feasible, LITS will acquire a streaming license. If a title is not available in a streaming format, LITS will purchase a DVD to place on Reserve. (LITS does not procure public performance rights for showing films at events; that responsibility lies with the host/organizer of the event.)
Ongoing subscriptions
In consultation with the faculty about curricular needs and changes, LITS regularly reviews subscriptions for changes in usage, subscription costs, and the available budget. Because subscriptions represent an ongoing commitment of funds, requests are collected on a “wishlist” for periodic review.
Leisure Collections
Access Services manages collections of Leisure titles in print and on DVD. Selections are informed by requests and knowledge of student interests.
Collection maintenance
LITS has a responsibility to keep the collection current, relevant, and within the space and financial constraints of the library budget and building. To this end, LITS not only continuously purchases new material, but also regularly evaluates print and electronic materials to remove from the collection to make way for new purchases most in line with the mission and principles of the collection. Major weeding or cancellation decisions are made in conversation with relevant faculty.
The Five College libraries have a shared commitment for an individual library to retain the last physical copy of an item in the consortial collection, balancing continued access with collection maintenance principles.
Any request to remove an item is weighed against the library and the College’s strong commitment to academic freedom and access to information.
For information on the library’s approach and practices related to gifts, see the Library’s Gifts and Donations policy.
The policies above apply to the Library’s general collection. For information on collection development in Archives & Special Collections, please see the link at ASC Policies and Services.