Collection Development Policy - Recreational Materials

Owned by Import Utility
Last updated: Oct 02, 2024 by Jon Bull
4 min read

Overall Collection Policy

The library strives to acquire, retain, or otherwise provide access to information resources that:

  • Enable students and faculty to engage with the University curriculum and related campus activities, excluding required textbooks.
  • Are foundational to our degree programs as a whole.
  • Relate to the Lutheran Church and the Reformation.
  • Selectively relate to our geographic region.

Scope, Academic Level, and Content

The purpose of the Recreational Collection is to help address the recreational interests of the Valparaiso University community. As such, the collection is meant to change alongside the student population and should remain small in order to remain relevant and continue to address users’ interests. The Recreational Collection includes print books (separated as the Stager Collection and Stager Topics sub-collection), movies, and board games.

Selection of materials is a continuous process affected by changes in students’ interests, trends, and current events. The primary criterion for selection is the extent to which a material is relevant to the purpose of the collection, improves the overall library collection, and enhances access to diverse points of views. Likewise, the Recreational Collection should be mindful of the DEIA-centric diverse collection criteria below. 

Collection Diversity Guidelines

The library strives to adhere to ALA guidelines outlined in the Bill of Rights regarding diverse collection development, though the library is not limited strictly to following them; they may add to these guidelines as seen fit by the liaison in charge of the Recreational Collection.

Responsibilities

The Stager Collection Development Committee is responsible for maintaining the collection, monitoring its strengths and weaknesses, and setting priorities. They will determine the best process for adding materials as well as provide timely updates to liaison librarians regarding purchases and weeding lists to facilitate and streamline deselection and avoid duplicating purchases. Responsibilities for the collection will be otherwise determined by the chair of the Stager Collection Development Committee. 

Funds

The recreational fund is used to purchase materials for the collection. The fund is replenished by the regular budget. The Stager Collection Development Committee has the ability to decide how the funds are distributed among material types to best accommodate user feedback and interests. Specific funds may be allocated each year toward DEIA-focused materials. Books and/or films for courses or programs will be purchased using program funds. For example, crime novels for the forensic biology course will be purchased using Biology funds.

Gifts

Gifts to the collection will be accepted if and only if they meet the same criteria that apply to purchases and contribute to the purpose of the collection. In order to be accepted, gifts must be in new or like new condition. Gifts can be added to the collection by anyone from the Stager Collection Development Committee. As part of gifts, only complete games will be added to the collection. Minor wear and tear is acceptable.

Selection Policy & Additional Guidelines

Guidelines for Selection

  • Duplicates are not purchased unless warranted by heavy usage of copies already held in the collection.
  • Hardcover format will be purchased if usage is expected to be high. Otherwise, paperback format is preferred.
  • Movie purchases include, but are not limited to: wide-releases, documentary films, and significant TV series.
  • DVD and/or Blu-Ray are the preferred formats for movies and TV series. Blu-ray / DVD combos will be purchased if available. 
  • Only unabridged versions of books will be added to the collection.

Additional Factors to Consider for Selection

  • Cost of material in relation to the budget and other available or needed materials
  • Circulation statistics for the existing collection
  • Strength of present holdings on the same or similar subject and/or genre
  • Reputation of the author and/or publisher
  • Patron requests through user feedback surveys
  • See DEIA criteria above

Location of Materials

Materials purchased with recreational funds and gifts to the Recreational Collection become part of the library collection and are shelved on the first floor of the CCLIR.

Deselection

Removing items from the collection provides quality control by eliminating outdated, inaccurate, non-circulating, and worn-out materials. The liaison in charge of the Recreational Collection is responsible for conducting an ongoing deselection effort to maintain the quality of the collection. The same guidelines used for selection of library materials provide the underlying principles for removal. Materials will be considered for removal once they have been in the collection for at least four years. Recent use will be the main determinant for retention, but other factors, such as overall use or number of renewals, should be taken into consideration. Games are excluded from the four-year rule since that part of the collection is still growing. Deselected materials will be handled in the same way as deselected materials from other library collections, except for books being transferred to the General Collection.

Transfer to General Collection

Upon deselection, materials may be transferred to the general collection if appropriate. The liaison in charge of the Recreational Collection will consult with the appropriate liaison to determine if an item should be added to the General Collection. If an item to be transferred is in poor condition, the liaison may wish to request a replacement or use departmental funds to order a new copy.

Repair and Replacement

The Stager Collection Development Committee determines what action should be taken with damaged and worn materials. Circulation statistics will be the first criterion used to determine if an item needs to be replaced. However, factors, such as availability or cost, will also be considered. Worn items will be withdrawn. If a replacement is warranted, the replacement fund will be used to purchase the replacement. Upon replacement, items may be added to the General Collection.

Review Process

The Collection Development Policy for recreational materials is reviewed annually by the Stager Collection Development Committee. Any changes made to the policy should be done in collaboration with the Collection Development committee, and not conflict with other existing policies.

Developed by R. Arteaga, Library Fellow, Fall 2017. Revised December 2023, September 2024.