{"id":11113,"date":"2026-04-22T20:49:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T20:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/library-cline\/?page_id=11113"},"modified":"2026-04-27T14:48:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:48:06","slug":"collection-development-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/library-cline\/collection-development-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cline Library Collection Development Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cline Library Collection Development Policy<\/h1>\n
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Our Mission\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n
We engage our users in the design of discovery, research and learning experiences that advance <\/span>NAU\u2019s mission<\/span><\/a> and strengthen our diverse community. Our expertise, collections, services, and spaces elevate learning, scholarship, creativity, and innovation in Arizona and beyond.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
Principles and Professional Standards for Academic Libraries\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\nWe adhere to the American<\/span> Library Association (ALA) guidelines, interpretations, and statements including <\/span>Professional Ethics<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Library Bill of Rights<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Privacy<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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Collection Development Principles\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Cline Library collections support the research, teaching and learning needs of the campus community and reinforce the mission of the <\/span>University<\/span><\/a> and of <\/span>Cline Library<\/span><\/a>. To achieve this goal, we seek to identify, evaluate, and develop collections in a variety of formats that meet our users’ needs. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
This collection development policy is a statement of the guiding principles used by Cline Library in the selection, acquisition, evaluation, and removal of library materials. It will be used both in providing consistency among those responsible for developing the collection and in communicating the library’s policies to faculty, students, staff, and other interested persons. As the programs and other information needs of the University change, so too the collection development policy will change to meet such needs. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
All resources selected for inclusion, whether purchased, donated, or free of charge, must support the mission and stated goals of NAU. Materials added to the collection must align with the following principles:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
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Provide resources that support curricular and research needs of NAU faculty and students. <\/span><\/li>\n
Reflect diverse viewpoints, disciplines, scholarship, formats, and creative activities.<\/span><\/li>\n
Support the library’s commitment to enabling every person to engage in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge by supporting the open exchange of ideas, creativity, intellectual freedom, diversity, and equitable access to information.<\/span><\/li>\n
Support the library’s commitment to preserving and making accessible unique collections related to the human and natural history of the University, the Colorado Plateau, and the broader geographic region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Scope of Collections\u00a0\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Books <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Journals<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Archival Materials<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Theses and Dissertations<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Media (Audio and Video)<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Scores<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Government Publications<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Databases<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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OER <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Northern Arizona University research, including published and unpublished works<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Selection Criteria\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Quality of content and fulfillment of curricular needs are the first criteria for selection of items to be included in the library’s collection. Specific considerations in choosing individual items include some or all the following:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
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The need for breadth versus depth depends on discipline. <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Resources that provide interdisciplinary coverage. <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Academic level of material.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Lasting value of the content.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Strengths of current holdings in same or similar subject areas.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Materials will be purchased in the format that promotes the broadest use. Preference will be given to materials in electronic format.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Authoritativeness of the author or reputation of the publisher.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Needs for immediate full-text access versus intellectual access (indexing\/abstracting) or historical indexing.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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The ability to obtain materials from other libraries.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
All decisions are made at the discretion of Cline Library<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Other guidelines\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Traditional textbooks are not normally purchased. However, texts used in courses that can serve purposes outside the classroom will be considered.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Multiple copies are purchased only under unusual circumstances determined by usage statistics.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Lost, stolen, or damaged material will be replaced if it meets current selection criteria and usage warrants replacement.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Cooperative acquisition with other libraries or through consortia is encouraged and supported.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Materials should meet current accessibility requirements, and those requirements should be a part of purchasing and licensing negotiations and decisions.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Unique Collections\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Special Collections and Archives, in collaboration with the Dean and University Librarian, retains authority for decisions related to the collections held in that department.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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IKDLL<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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OpenKnowledge@NAU collects, preserves, and disseminates as openly as possible the intellectual, creative, and scholarly output of the Northern Arizona University community.<\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Cline Library is a selective federal depository for US government publications. The preferred format for the collection is electronic. <\/span> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Collection Management<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n
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\n Deselection\u00a0 Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Gifts\u00a0 Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
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Deselection\u00a0 Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Weeding or deselection<\/a> is the considered and deliberate elimination of materials from the collection and is an important part of collection development and management. Weeding or deselection maintains and increases the value and usefulness of the collection while also conserving physical space. Please see Cline Library’s weeding policy and guidelines for details.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Gifts\u00a0 Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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As a general rule, the Cline Library does not accept donations of print books or other non-archival materials. We do make exceptions at the discretion of Cline Library. Please contact <\/span>library.acquisitions@nau.edu<\/span><\/a>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
We’ll also consider content that could enhance Special Collections and Archives or important content that was produced by members of our NAU community. <\/span>For information on donating archival material please see the Special Collections and Archives <\/span>Collection Development Policy<\/span><\/a>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
Individuals or organizations wishing to support the Library are encouraged to consider monetary contributions through the Northern Arizona University Foundation, which allow the Library to acquire materials that directly support academic programs and student success.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n
The Library appreciates the community’s generosity and interest in supporting its collections.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Ask us!<\/h4>\n