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| UMM Home > Library Home > About the Library > Collections > Government Publications > Government Publications Collection Development Policy | |
Government Publications Collection Development PolicyMISSION STATEMENT To provide the best possible access to government information relevant to the University community, Morris-area residents, and the residents of Congressional District Seven. PURPOSE OF COLLECTION Rodney A. Briggs Library at the University of Minnesota, Morris, has been a federal selective depository of government publications since 1963. Obtaining, maintaining, and providing assistance in the use of these materials is based on the premise that access to information is the foundation of academic, civic, and personal endeavors. BASIS OF SELECTION Items are selected if they are anticipated to fulfill the curricular, research, and informational needs of students, faculty, and staff of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and the residents of West Central Minnesota (Seventh Congressional District). UMM is a public liberal arts college offering courses in the following fields: art, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, English, foreign languages, geology, history, management, mathematics, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, sociology, speech communication, and theatre arts. The curriculum is designed to lead to a bachelor of arts degree. However, two graduate programs (education and liberal studies) are also offered. The Morris community is characterized by dependence on agriculture, small business, and government agencies, all of whose needs are considered in the selection of items. Increasingly, government information is available through online electronic access. The library utilizes and points to government sites on its government publications webpages. Currently, the library selects about 8% of the federal item numbers offered through the depository program. If items are available in multiple formats, selection will be dictated by space considerations and ease of access to the greatest number of constituents. Recommendations for selection from the academic and local community are encouraged. Because Briggs Library is located in a rural community at least 90 miles from another depository or major library, coordination with other libraries as to selection and collection maintenance is minimal. Collection decisions are consistent with Title 44 of the United States Code, Guidelines for the Depository Library System, Instructions to Depository Libraries, and Federal Depository Library Manual. The library should attempt to accommodate new formats which may be developed in the future. METHODOLOGY OF SELECTION The library will select and retain the majority of publications specified in the Federal Depository Library Manual as a "Suggested Core Collection" for academic libraries. The library will provide access to the "Basic Collection". In addition, the library will select items in the following categories and subject areas: education, agriculture, Congressional reports and related documents, geology, small business, health statistics and policy, labor relations and regulations, statistical compilations or summaries, and area handbooks. Suggestions for selections are invited, but all selection decisions (additions or deletions) are made by the Documents Librarian, in consultation with library staff and subject specialists (librarians, faculty, or knowledgeable professionals in the field). Selections are evaluated annually. As the FDLP becomes more electronic, the library will transition more and more to online selections. Core items and items deemed vital will continue to be received in tangible format. Circulation records contain information to be considered in the addition, deselection or discard processes for individual documents or items. Anecdotal evidence gleaned by reference librarians is also considered. The librarian will use tools provided by the FDLP to assist with collection decisions, including the List of Classes of U.S. Government Publications Available for Selection by Depository Libraries, Federal Depository Library Manual, Official Electronic Substitution List, and Documents Data Miner Two. MAINTENANCE OF COLLECTION As a selective depository, Briggs Library may dispose of any publications which they have retained for at least five years, after obtaining permission and receiving instructions for such disposition from the regional depository at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis campus. Items designated on the Superseded List are discarded as soon as a new edition or revision arrives without the permission of the regional depository. Items which are replaced by another format may also be discarded after following appropriate channels. The collection is weeded on an ongoing basis. Lists are sent to the Regional according to the monthly withdrawal list schedule. The majority of paper items are tattletaped for security purposes. All documents will be clearly marked with the depository property stamp, date received, and SuDoc number. Items will be identified to the piece level, with an ongoing retrospective cataloging project including those items currently not identified in the online catalog. When deemed necessary, additional non-depository items will be purchased to support and enhance the depository collection. ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION OF COLLECTION Titles are included in SUMMON - Government Publications, part of the library's online catalog specifically defined to locate government documents. SUMMON - Plus, another section of the online catalog, allows users to locate government documents intermingled with the regular collection. Access to the materials is facilitated by electronic databases or indexes, such as GPO Access or FirstSearch's GPO Access and PAIS International, as well as MNCat (catalog of the University of Minnesota, the regional depository). The Government Research QuickStart links to or identifies many places to locate government information. The Monthly Catalog and other document indexes are also available. A copy of the List of Classes is available in the documents office or online. The majority of the government publications collection (paper and microfiche) is housed in an open stack area on the fourth floor of the library and is arranged in Superintendent of Documents classification order. The most recent volumes of some items, (those for which the demand is heavy) are shelved in the Reference Collection and are arranged by Library of Congress classification. Older editions of these items are located in the documents collection on the fourth floor, arranged by SuDoc number. There is a computer available for documents use on the fourth floor which meets or exceeds the electronic requirements of the Federal Depository Library Program, although items may be used at any computer within the library. One microfiche reader is located in close proximity to the government microfiche cabinets. In addition, there are two microform reader-printers available near the circulation area of the library. Most government publications may be checked out of the library for one month. Reference services for government documents are available from the staff at the reference desk whenever reference is offered in the library (Monday - Thursday: 10-4, and 7-10; Friday 10-4; Sunday 4-10), or by contacting the government documents librarian. Revised: April 2004 |
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