Collection Development Policy

Index

1. Profile of the Library

St Mark's National Memorial Library was established in 1957 by Bishop Ernest Burgmann. The general collection has strong links with the spiritual and religious history of Canberra and southern New South Wales. It includes the libraries of former bishops of the Diocese of Goulburn, including the first bishop, Mesac Thomas. It has been built up to reflect classical, philosophical and religious interests of the nineteenth and twentieth century scholars.

The Library while Anglican in foundation, has endeavoured throughout its history to maintain an open and ecumenical acquisition policy, deliberately reflecting a wide range of theological works. Within the limitations of budget resources the library has always sought to keep up to date with major international trends in both books and journals.

1.1 The Library Collection

The collection consists of the following:

  • Monographs : 90,000
  • Serial subscriptions : 300
  • Tippett Collection : 20,000
  • Rare Books : 1,000

The collection consists of monographs, serials, (including a number from the nineteenth century), a pamphlet collection, a microfilm collection, and a rare book collection. These rare materials have historical significance because they are held only in St. Mark's or are scarce in Australian libraries, and because they belonged to prominent persons.

An especially significant collection is the library of the late Dr Alan Tippett, presented to St Mark's Centre in 1984. This comprises a substantial collection of monographs, manuscripts, serials, articles, letters and slides relating to anthropology and missiology, with special reference to the South Pacific region.

Another special addition that supplements the Tippett Collection is the Needham Library of the Australian Board of Missions.

2. Purpose of this collection development policy

The aim of this document is to provide a policy document which identifies and outlines the general framework for the development and maintenance of the library collections.

The main objectives of this policy are to:

  • provide guidelines for the selection and acquisition of resources so that the materials acquired are relevant to the needs of St Mark's staff and clients;
  • assist in setting standards of quality for the inclusion (and exclusion) of resources;
  • establish an on-going process of collection evaluation and appraisal;
  • assist staff in a more effective budget planning and administration;
  • inform library clients and other libraries of the nature and scope of the collection and
  • maintain the physical condition of the collection at an appropriate level.

3. Clients served:

  • Staff of St Mark's and Charles Sturt University;.
  • Theological Students of St Mark's and Charles Sturt University;.
  • Staff and students from institutions with whom St Mark's and Charles Sturt University Libraries have made reciprocal arrangements;.
  • Clergy and lay members of their parishes or congregations;.
  • Researchers engaged in specialised research in theology and related disciplines;.
  • Members of the general public including postal members;.
  • Other libraries through Inter-Library Loan and Document Delivery services.

4. Access to the collections

  • On site access to the collection is via the OPAC and the Card Catalogue as parts of the older collection are still in the card catalogue. These records are gradually being added to the on-line catalogue as resources permit.
  • The main collection is open access but the Tippett and the Rare Books collections may have certain restrictions on accessing them.

5. Funding

The Library receives funding for books, journals and other resources each year. The Library Manager in consultation with Faculty staff allocates the funds based on broad subject disciplines.

  • There is no recurrent budget allocation for the Special Collections.
  • Special provision is made in the budget for electronic and CD-ROM resources.

5.1 Bibliographic access

  • The Library is a member of UNILINC and Aleph, a shared Library system is used by member libraries of the Charles Sturt University. The Library catalogue is available on the Internet via the Charles Sturt University web site: http://www.csu.edu.au/division/library.
  • The Library holdings of St Mark's and other UNILINC members are included in KINETICA (National Bibliographic database of materials held in Australian libraries) managed by the National Library of Australia.

6. Gifts and donations

  • Gifts of library materials are welcomed provided that they fall within the library's collection priorities, and have always made a significant contribution to St Mark's Library. Once donations are accepted, they are added to the collection and become the property of the St Mark's National Theological Centre. In general, a gift is not accepted if the donor wishes to place any limitations on the use of the item or its disposal.
  • All major donations and those specifying conditions of access must be approved by the Director of St Mark's on the recommendation of the Library Manager.
  • The Library will only accept items that enhance the collection. Materials not accepted may be donated to other libraries or organisations or offered for sale.
  • All materials should normally be in good condition, and not require binding or repair.
  • Rare, expensive and significant items may be housed in appropriate accommodation.
  • Serial donations should be in good physical condition and substantially complete.
  • The Library is also pleased to receive donations of money and such donations are tax deductable.

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7. Collecting guidelines

The Library's collecting priorities in theology/religion are focused on scholarly materials, both primary and secondary and on subject-related materials relevant to undergraduate courses. The library will seek to maintain resources relevant to the following areas of study:

  • Biblical studies and biblical languages
  • Old Testament
  • New Testament
  • Church history
  • Historical theology
  • Contemporary theology
  • Philosopy and ethics
  • Australian religious history and sociology
  • Christian worship
  • Pastoral and counselling studies
  • Christian ethics
  • Missiology
  • Ecumenical studies
  • Comparative religion
  • Anglican history and thought
  • Parish life and education
  • Ageing and pastoral care
  • Christianity, Science and Ecology
  • Feminist Theology
  • Rural Ministry
  • Comparative Religion
  • Economics and Theology
  • Youth Ministry

The Library also collects popular and devotional works by well regarded and known authors. Popular contemporary religious and juvenile literature are not collected.

English is the preferred language except for important works required for particular research and the essential texts for work in the Biblical languages.

Preference is given to hardcover editions. Paperback editions are acquired if that is the only format available.

Electronic journal subscriptions are actively pursued.

Multiple copies of titles should not be acquired or purchased.

Damaged or missing items should be replaced wherever possible.

8. Responsibility for selection of Library Materials

  • Responsibility for selecting library materials is shared between the Library and faculty staff.
  • All full-time faculty staff are expected to act as subject specialists in the areas of their specialisation and make recommendations for purchase.
  • Part-time faculty staff are also encouraged where possible to make recommendations.
  • Students and other library users are invited to make recommendations on purchases.

9. Placing purchase recommendations

The library will provide the following selection aids and links:

  • links to publishers' websites;
  • links to bookselling sites; and
  • online and alerting services

At regular intervals the Librarian shall circulate to faculty staff publishers' catalogues, book announcements, new title information leaflets and slips

Selection may also be made from book notices, reviews, journals, newspapers, books and other scholarly reviews.

Selection of new journals follows the collection guidelines listed above but also issues of electronic access and fulltext database held by the Library.

Journal subscriptions are expensive and price increases occur faster than the inflation rate. It is important to check for the increases regularly to monitor inflation and fluctuations in exchange rates. Therefore, all recommendations for new subscriptions and extensive back issues must be submitted to the Library Manager for consideration. Each subscription recommendation will be considered on a case by case basis, and a decision made on the principle that the cancellation of an existing subscription is of the equivalent dollar value.

All purchase recommendations are submitted to the Library Manager. The final decision to order the title and commit Library funds rests with the Library Manager as delegate of St.Mark's Director.

The Library Manager, in consultation with Faculty staff and members of the Library Consultative Committee (hyperlink here for Cte), will monitor the overall shape and quality of the collection, giving particular attention to the Reference Collection and to areas inadequately covered by faculty recommendations.

10. Purchase of library material directly by faculty staff

  • One-off purchases of books and conference reports may be made.
  • Wherever possible, prior consultation should take place with the Library Manager. The purchased item must fit the selection guidelines as stated in the Library's Collection Development Policy.
  • The item must be in excellent physical condition.
  • Proof of payment must be retained (e.g credit card slip, cash register docket etc.).
  • The item must be delivered to the Library with proof of payment.
  • Reimbursement will be in Australian dollars. If the item is purchased overseas, the conversion from the foreign currency will be calculated at the rate active on the day of reimbursement.

11. Formats Collected

Library materials collected vary in format. Every effort is made to select the most appropriate formats. This is determined largely by the space and storage requirements as well as the special equipment needed to operate and access them fully.

The main formats of the collections are:

  • monographs form the largest part of the Library collection;
  • serials;
  • audio visual materials;
  • electronic documents;
  • cd-roms.

12. Weeding

The general and journal collections should be weeded as and when required of:

  • excessive duplicates;
  • obsolete and superseded editions;
  • items damaged beyond repair;
  • discontinued journal titles;
  • incomplete runs of journal issues; and
  • titles no longer relevant to the collection scope.

The process of weeding or deselection is the responsibility of the Library Manager. He or she should make the decision after careful consultation with the relevant Faculty staff member in whose subject area the item belongs.

13. Review of the Collection Development Policy

In order for the Collection Development Policy to remain current and relevant, there should be a regular review from time to time. It is suggested that the review of the policy should be carried out every five years.

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