Alexandria Campus Collection Development Policy
for Non-Print Materials

This policy is a guide to the planned development of the library’s non-print collection that will meet the educational needs of the Alexandria Campus community of Northern Virginia Community College. The Library supports the mission of the College and is an integral part of the instructional program. Our goal is to provide well-organized access to materials in a variety of formats that will enhance teaching and learning. We strive to build a collection that will support the development of critical thinking skills, and we are committed to educating library users to become capable researchers and effective users of the information resources we provide.

The NVCC Faculty Handbook (3.7300) states guidelines for the selection of library materials. Materials will be collected in varied formats which support the mission and goals of the College, the curricula, teaching methods and professional development of the faculty, and special student needs.

Selection of materials is a cooperative responsibility, with participation and recommendations by librarians, faculty, staff, students, and Learning Resource Committees. Liaison librarians to each of the academic divisions have primary responsibility for the library collection in their disciplines, working with faculty to integrate collection development with the curricula on an ongoing basis. The Collection Development Librarian is responsible for coordination of all collection development activities on the campus; final responsibility for selection and quality of these materials on each campus rests with the Director of Learning Resources.

In accord with the Faculty Handbook selection guidelines, the Alexandria Campus Library has established the following priorities for collection development for nonprint items:

Ø       To provide students with resources supporting disciplines, programs and courses offered at the Alexandria Campus.

Ø       To provide faculty and staff with resources supporting their teaching and professional development activities which could include developing a collection of  foreign language films

Ø       To provide the campus community with educational and informational resources of reference and general interest, i.e. to purchase, when appropriate, the Best Picture winner, as well as Best Foreign Picture winner in video/DVD format.

 The collection includes but is not limited to audio compact discs,  1/2" VHS videocassettes and DVDs.

The library will purchase nonprint materials that meet one or more of the following selection criteria:

Ø       The format enhances the understanding or appreciation of the content (i.e. plays, ballets, opera, speeches, etc.)

Ø       The format matches the equipment available at the college

Ø       The format meets ADA guidelines (i.e. closed captioned, described video, etc.)

Ø       The content supplements the curriculum or meets the instructional needs of faculty

Ø       The content is of educational value to students and community members

Ø       The content is of significant or lasting value

Ø       The content represents an important viewpoint, trend, or cultural movement

Ø       The content is underrepresented in the audiovisual collection

Ø       The content is of cross-disciplinary or multi-disciplinary value

Ø       The content is of interest to a wide audience

Ø       There are adequate funds available and the cost of the material is reasonable

Ø       There are favorable reviews in professional selection periodicals

Scope:

English language materials predominate, but no language is excluded. Films in English and other languages with English subtitles are emphasized. Foreign language video materials with English subtitles are the preferred format, although materials in foreign languages taught at NVCC will be purchased without subtitles with faculty recommendation. Audio materials are purchased in the language of the original production.

Foreign language films representing the curricula of Northern Virginia Community College are given priority over other foreign language films.  Compact discs are collected without regard to language.

Popular, current release, feature films (excluding Best Picture winners) are purchased only upon the request of an instructor or department to support classroom instruction or research.

Format:

Video: Programs will be purchased in the NTSC standard only.

DVDs purchased will be encoded for North America (Region 1) only.

Generally, the Library does not acquire materials that are consumable, kept outside the Library, in a format that cannot be used in the Library, or duplicates, unless warranted by sufficient demand.

This selection policy applies equally to all resources, whether acquired by purchase, gift, or exchange.

Procedures for specific selection decisions and schedules can be found in Collection Development Procedures.

Return to Collection Development Policy page.

This page was created by Jean Hogan and Matt Todd.
Northern Virginia Community College, 2005.