The Lawrence Jacobsen Library
Collection Development Policy
Table of Contents
Document Delivery Services, Resource Sharing and Cooperative Collection Development
Deselection/Collection Maintenance
Replacement of Library Materials
Procedures for Reviewing the Policy
The Wisconsin Primate Research Center (WPRC) Library and Information Service, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, supports the research and outreach missions of the National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison and also supports the information needs of the staff of the seven other National Primate Research Centers. The Library receives funding primarily through the Center's base grant and a National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) resource grant titled “Coordinated Information Services for Primate Research” (CIS). With this financial support, the library serves a diverse population within the Center, across campus, and both nationally and internationally. The WPRC Library collects extensively in areas relevant to primatology and current research initiatives at the Center, in subjects ranging from anthropology and biomedicine to veterinary medicine and zoology.
The Library houses and manages several unique collections. These include the children's book collection, an irreplaceable audio visual collection, a large collection of reprints, a small collection of rare books, and the June Northrop Barker Archives, all with a focus on primatology. The library also maintains a Web-based information resource called Primate Info Net (PIN). Included on the site are factsheets about the primates, information on current research, resources in primatology, information about careers, the International Directory of Primatology (IDP), an email reference service, and links to other relevant resources.
The Wisconsin Primate Research Center Library and Information Service supports the research and outreach missions of the National Primate Research Center , University of Wisconsin-Madison . The Library acquires, organizes, develops, provides access to, and delivers information resources in a variety of formats to Center scientists and staff, University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty, staff and students, and persons worldwide with an interest in primatology. Essential to this mission is the effort to comprehensively collect and provide access to print, audiovisual and digital materials related to nonhuman primates in research, conservation, education, and veterinary care.
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the selection, acquisition, evaluation and maintenance of library resources in the field of primatology. It will be used as a selection aid for library staff and as a guide for library users to understand the scope and coverage of the collection.
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Primatology, material is collected across fields of study. The intent is to comprehensively collect material with a focus on nonhuman primates in support of research, conservation, education, and veterinary care. Subject areas include, but are not limited to, biomedicine, molecular biology, neurosciences, psychology and behavioral science, conservation and ecology, anthropology, animal welfare, enrichment, veterinary medicine, zoology and ethics. The library also maintains a collection of juvenile literature with a focus on primates.
The library collects materials in multiple formats contingent upon the scope and subject coverage of the collection. Formats include print (monographs, journals, theses, reprints, etc.), audiovisual (videos, DVDs, compact disks, audio cassettes, photographs and slides) and digital (scanned and born digital content/images) materials, and electronic resources (primarily e-journals, bibliographic and full-text databases and other reference sources) and some realia. New and emerging formats will also be considered.
Other than dictionaries, the library collects primarily English language materials. When feasible, the library will selectively collect materials in other languages.
- Relevance to current research
- Relevance to the field of primatology
- Level of treatment
- Accuracy and objectivity of information
- Presentation (style/clarity)
- Authoritativeness
- Reputation of the author, issuing body, and/or publisher
- Physical and technical quality – 1) design, paper, typography; 2) size; 3) durability; 4) binding type
- Value as core resource or outstanding work in a field
- Timeliness and lasting value
- Stability of format
- Price/relative cost of material in relation to budget
The WPRC Library & Information Service complies fully with all of the provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law (17 U.S.C.) and any amendments. The library supports the Fair Use provisions of the Copyright Law.
General Collections
- Audiovisual Materials:
Collect slides, slide sets, photographs, videotapes, CDs, DVDs, audiotapes, and films that deal primarily with primatology, conservation, anthropology, and animal welfare. The Library collects, preserves, and loans these materials for educational or research purposes.
- Books and Monographs:
- Computer science collection:
Selectively collect texts with a focus on computer software and programming. - General book and monograph collection:
Comprehensively collect books and monographs with a focus on non-human primates. The cross disciplinary nature of primatology is reflected in the monograph collection.
- Electronic Resources:
Electronic resources will be evaluated on the same basis as are book and other materials. The WPRC Library through its affiliation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison has access to a wide variety of electronic resources. The library also subscribes to a small number of relevant electronic resources, which are made available campus-wide. In addition, the WPRC Library provides access to electronic resources developed by the library and also selectively identifies and catalogs relevant websites and other online resources.
- Journals and Serials:
Because of the interdisciplinary nature of primatology, the Library subscribes to scholarly journals and serials across multiple fields of study including biomedicine, molecular biology, psychology, conservation and related subject areas, in addition to the core primatology journals. The WPRC Library has campus archival responsibility for the core primatology journals.
- Newsletters:
Collect newsletters and other ephemera with a focus in primatology.
- Popular Magazines:
Maintain a small collection of popular magazines for leisure and entertainment purposes.
- Reference/Reserve Collection:
Collect both general reference materials (encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, almanacs, handbooks, etc.) as well as subject-related reference materials concerning the field of primatology and the research interests of the Center scientists. The Reference and Reserve Collections are reviewed on a regular basis to insure currency and accuracy.
Special Collections
- Juvenile Literature Collection:
Selectively collect fiction and nonfiction books with a focus on primates that serve as a resource for children, young adults, and K-12 educators.
- Rare Book Collection:
Collect rare and early works in the field of primatology.
- Dissertations and Theses:
Collect theses and dissertations resulting from research conducted through the WNPRC, University of Wisconsin-Madison in the course of acquiring a Masters or PhD. Selectively collect theses and dissertations contributed to the library by affiliated researchers.
Archives:
The Library welcomes gifts of books, journals, and items in other formats as well as gifts of money for the purchase of library materials. Gifts are generally expected to supplement existing collections in support of the WPRC teaching and research programs, or to provide the Library with a core of material in which there is a scholarly interest. To be accepted, all gifts must fall within the guidelines of the Library's collection development policy.
Once a gift has been accepted, it becomes the property of the WPRC Library. The Library has the responsibility of determining the most effective way to use the material and may add the item(s) to its collections, use it (them) for exchange purposes, or otherwise dispose of it (them) in accordance with Library policy. In general, it is not the policy of the Library to retain duplicates, items that fall outside the scope of collection, or items in poor condition, or to accept conditions with regard to the processing or housing of a gift that might restrict access to the materials.
Internal Revenue Service regulations prohibit the Library from appraising gifts. The Library will acknowledge a gift through a thank-you letter. Donors who wish an appraisal of their gift for tax purposes must arrange for the services of a qualified appraiser and pay for the appraisal themselves.
If the WPRC Library doesn't own an item, a patron may request that it be purchased. The item may be purchased at the discretion of the library director and contingent upon on its relation to primatology, budget considerations and to the selection criteria as stated in this policy. The library will purchase items requested by staff for use in their labs. These items are charged back to the individuals grant(s).
Document Delivery Services, Resource Sharing and Cooperative Collection Development
The WPRC Library supplements its collection through document delivery services, resource sharing, and cooperative collection development.
The Library provides access to its collections through a variety of mechanisms, including MadCat ( University of Wisconsin-Madison library catalog), WorldCat (OCLC), DOCLINE (NLM), consortial partnerships, and Primate Info Net. The library also partners with and provides service to the seven other National Primate Research Centers for the mutual benefit of all parties.
Deselection and Collection Maintenance
Review of the collection and deselection of library materials is essential for the maintenance of an active, academically useful collection and for the best utilization of limited space. The weeding of unwanted materials is done conservatively by WPRC Library staff. Criteria for weeding include the following:
- Ages of titles in relation to subject matter, i.e. currency
- Duplication (multiple copies that are no longer needed)
- Materials containing outdated or inaccurate information
- Materials of peripheral interest to the core mission
- Physical condition (worn or damaged materials beyond repair)
- Superseded editions of materials neither considered classics nor needed for historical purposes
- Availability of the title elsewhere:
- On-campus
- Within the UW System
- Through ILL
- Material that has not been used and has no long-term value
Replacement of Library Materials
Library staff periodically review missing or lost, damaged or worn out items for replacement. The selection criteria defined in this policy apply when reviewing this material. Additional considerations include:
- Is there an ongoing demand for the item? What is the use?
- Is the item available for purchase? What is the cost?
- Is this the only copy in the University of Wisconsin libraries collection? Where is it available?
Procedures for Reviewing the Policy
The Collection Development Policy will be reviewed periodically by the Library Director. Changes will be incorporated as necessary.
7/27/2005
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