[Original posting on this topic is reproduced below; the responses follow it:]
From: Tom Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>
Our library has a policy of not collecting textbooks assigned for courses,
but we want to improve our explanations of the reasons behind our
policy. I would appreciate hearing what policies others have adopted in
this area.
Thomas M. Izbicki
Collection Development Coordinator
Eisenhower Library
Johns Hopkins University
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
Telephone: 410-516-7173
Fax: 410-516-8399
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From: "Guilfoyle, Marvin" <mg29_at_evansville.edu>
We do not buy assigned course textbooks because the students are expected
to purchase them, as the library's money should be supplementing their
classroom materials not replacing their need to purchase them.
Moreover, we do not, in general, add textbooks to the collection. Our
Collection Development Manual {
http://www2.evansville.edu/libweb/libservices/cd/pm9401.html } states the
policy as follows:
Textbooks:
Monographs written primarily as instructional material are usually not
considered desirable additions to the collection and should not be ordered;
presumably, a textbook is an introductory presentation similar to that
which the student has already purchased. Those that transcend this tutorial
level or which for some reason will significantly enhance the collection
will be added as needed by faculty request. In the case of gifts, only
textbooks less than three years old will be considered for addition to the
collection.
http://www2.evansville.edu/libweb/libservices/cd/pm9411.htm#Textbooks:
Marvin Guilfoyle
Acquisitions & Collection Development Librarian
University of Evansville Libraries
1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
(812) 479-2247
mg29_at_evansville.edu
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From: Karen Akins <Karen_Akins_at_tamu-commerce.edu>
Please summarize for the list. We have an informal (not included in
written) policy. We just tend to state that money is so scarce, that it is
better spent on supplementary material. We also have trouble enforcing the
policy since we rarely know what the assigned textbooks for courses are.
Hope you get better answers
Karen S. Akins
Head, Acquisitions/Collection Development
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Karen_Akins_at_tamu-commerce.edu
(903) 886-5728 (Office)
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From: "Noel, Michelle" <mnoel_at_cumberland.edu>
We don't collect textbooks because there are too many of them and professors
often change them from year to year, even semester to semester. It's not
really a good use of our dollars when they change so frequently, and it
really is the student's responsibility to have his or her own copy.
Michelle Noel
Cumberland University
Lebanon TN
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From: Ruth Wallach <rwallach_at_usc.edu>
We had a policy for not collecting textbooks because many of them go
through many editions, being updated every several years. Because they are
not serial publications, keeping up with the updates was difficult.
Another issue is format - textbooks often come with workbooks and other
additions - libraries are not set up to deal with a historic accumulation
of such material.
Lastly, while old/obsolete textbooks may be interesting historically, it is
very difficult to develop a historic retention policy. If you don't have
such a policy, you will end up with a huge library of obsolete textbooks.
Most lastly, disciplines matter, too. There may be a reason to collect a
certain kind of textbook material in the social sciences and humanities, if
it fits the general library's profile, but what about applied
sciences? How much money can we spend on iterations of a basic electrical
engineering textbook?
Ruth Wallach
University of Southern California
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From: pwhitten_at_ccmail.nevada.edu
We do not buy textbooks because we feel our money is better spent on
resources not available from the campus bookstore. The logistics and
staff time involved in determining what texts would be needed, getting them
ordered and sent to the library in a timely fashion, and placing them on
reserve are also considerations. In 2000 we did a systematic study of the
cost of purchasing required texts for all 100 and 200 level classes. Our
initial investment would be about $20,000. Obviously, not all volumes
would have to be replaced every semester, but it would still be costly to
maintain an up to date collection of required texts.
Penny Whitten
Public Services Librarian
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
702-895-2137
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From: Marilyn Christianson <mcchris_at_lsu.edu>
Usually dividing my total book budget by the number of students, or FTE 's,
or some similar figure, horrifies the person asking why and he/she
understands completely. Alternatively, I multiple the number of students
in an area by a reasonable price of a textbook in the same area, and
compare that with the total funds for books in that area, with similar
immediate understanding. I have used this for individual explanations but
have not tried is as a general written explanation on our web site or any
such similar thing.
Of course, this is not the whole reason by any means, but it does elicit an
understanding of what is being asked of the library.
Marilyn Christianson, Coordinator
Science Collection Development
LSU Libraries
mcchris_at_lsu.edu
225-578-4237
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From: Steve Stratton <sestratt_at_vcu.edu>
"We do not automatically collect textbooks for the classes currently being
offered". "We do not typically collect textbooks. Both of these statements
appear in our collection statements of various departments. I have also
seen "We do not currently collect undergraduate textbooks".
The reasons for this are numerous of course. The textbooks are replaced
with great regularity whether any information changes or not in the subject
area. This is because they are great money makers for publishers with
captive college audiences. We could not afford, even in our good budget
years, to purchase all the new textbooks that come out in each subject or
that are used in the classes for 25,000 students. So instead of piecemeal
purchasing we do not purchase any. They are marked out in our selection
profile we maintain with vendors. The only time we see textbooks is when a
faculty member donates a review copy that they have received. Exceptions
can be made of course depending on the selector, if they feel a book is a
particularly important text.
Steve Stratton sestratt_at_saturn.vcu.edu
Social and Behavioral Sciences Librarian (804) 828-1112
Virginia Commonwealth University (804) 828-0151 fax
Richmond, VA 23284-2033
Received on Sat Mar 01 2003 - 03:52:32 EST