Collection Development Policy - Test Prep Materials

Owned by Import Utility
Last updated: Dec 11, 2020 by Rachel Volk

Purpose

The Library seeks to support student needs in their preparation for standard post-graduate tests. We also want to support those seeking GED support. The following titles will be purchased and varying print editions will be available through the Reserve, Reference, and general collections.

Barron’s GMAT

Barron’s GRE

How to Prepare for the GED Test (Barron’s)

Barron’s LSAT

Barron’s New MCAT

Mosby’s Comprehensive Review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN® Examination

Funds, Format, Order Type

The Reference collection development fund is responsible for purchasing the most current print editions of these six guides. Any other guides requested by librarians and/or departments need to be purchased with departmental funds, even if the intention is to shelve them in the Reference collection.

For continuity, the majority of the guides should be from one publisher. Currently, Barron’s is the default common publisher with input from the health sciences librarian that Mosby’s is preferred for NCLEX.

This will be a yearly consideration. New orders will be triggered by changes in the tests and/or in the prep materials themselves. The orders can be placed on firm order status.

Associated Materials and Resources

The database, Testing & Education Reference Center: TERC (via INSPIRE), provides access to over 300 practice tests and courses along with dozens of ebooks containing valuable study material and practice tests (Peterson’s content, GALE vendor). If this database is withdrawn from use, this collection policy should be reviewed.

The accompanying LibGuide, http://libguides.valpo.edu/testprep, should always be updated along with collection changes.

If community patrons request access to the print volumes on Reserve, they should be directed to this TERC database. Books on Reserve or in the Reference collection cannot be checked out to community patrons.

Procedure

Note: "Upon receipt, the book will be cataloged for the Reference collection. It should then be immediately placed on Reserve (3-day checkout). If any, the former Reserve copy/older edition will return to Reference collection. If any, the oldest edition in Reference will then be transferred to the stacks. Any older editions in the stacks should be withdrawn. (date/initials)"
If a firm order, note needs to be in the GOBI order as a note.

Created September 2016; approved by Library Faculty; finalized October 2017