Show me
ACU library is an electronic preferred library with the collection regarded as a single, integrated collection, regardless of location.
Our collections are regularly evaluated for relevance and value – this includes the selection, acquisition and deselection of materials.
ACU library collection development is informed by:
Responsibility for collection development lies with the library and the following guidelines are intended to serve as a framework for the development and ongoing maintenance of information resources in all formats. They will be utilised as a planning and management tool to:
a. Guide the selection, acquisition, maintenance and provision of access to information resources.
b. Ensure the selection and management of library resources meets the learning, teaching, and research needs of the University.
c. Ensure transparency and consistency of practice by communicating the key aspects of planning, decision-making, and other processes associated with collection management.
d. Achieve optimal value for money from the library acquisitions budget.
a. Recommendations for library resources can be made by any member of the University community via the New item request form. Recommendations will be assessed against the collection development guidelines, current holdings and the availability of sufficient funds. It may be necessary for the library to cancel existing subscription/s of a similar value to fund the purchase.
b. Selection of electronic resources includes:
I. Avoiding duplication, as it is a key priority for the library to offer access to unique resources.
II. Technological considerations such as platform and interface. The library will only subscribe to resources that allow access via IP (Internet Protocol) authentication, Open Athens Federation or SAML Single Sign on systems.
III. Compatibility with the library’s discovery systems.
IV. Equity of access and license conditions. Resources will not be purchased where licence terms cannot be adhered to or where acceptable licence terms cannot be negotiated. Licence terms should allow maximum access and use, including provisions for remote access and acceptable printing and download conditions.
V. Format (full-text or citation only).
c. The library does not usually purchase:
I. Material in languages other than English, except where foreign language resources are required to support teaching, learning or research.
II. Applications software.
III. Consumable items (e.g. single-use forms) for educational and psychological tests.
IV. Multiple copies.
d. The ACU library participates in national and international resource sharing networks to support access to academic materials not held. The library at its discretion may choose to purchase a resource for inclusion in the collection, rather than borrow it.
e. Due to budget and space requirements, the library may decide to meet specialist research needs through Interlibrary loan services rather than by purchase.
f. For more information, refer to Interlibrary loans and document delivery.
g. Final decisions rest with the Library Director.
a. The University provides an annual allocation to the library for the purposes of acquiring information resources that advance the teaching, learning and research needs of the University.
b. Priority is given to ongoing recurrent commitments.
c. The library also takes into consideration new course establishment costs, accreditation requirements, and the fact that resources in some subject areas are more expensive than others.
d. All resources should offer value for money considering quality, demand and usage. All purchases must be financially sustainable.
a. The library is pleased to receive financial donations and donations of material that enhances the quality of the collection. Items are accepted on the clear understanding that the library has control over what is kept and what is discarded, and where items will be located. Donations are accepted at the discretion of the Library Director.
b. Substantial donations and those specifying conditions for access, location, treatment or retention must be approved by the Library Director.
a. ACU is not a deposit library for government publications and therefore does not automatically acquire them.
a. Published by ACU: the library, where possible, will acquire one copy of each ACU publication in print or online, however it relies on the resources being supplied to the library for addition to the collection. The library may consider retrospectively digitising significant items. Where only a print format is available the received publication will be digitised (subject to copyright) or placed in the collection.
b. ACU authors: ACU staff members are invited to donate at least one copy of their publications to the library. The library will endeavour to hold one copy of every book written by ACU staff. However, as part of the ACU library collection, these titles will be evaluated and can be subject to the deselection process listed below.
c. Where the work is a research output and a digital copy cannot be obtained the book will be scanned, subject to copyright compliance, into a digital format for inclusion in ACU's institutional repository.
a. Research Bank is ACU’s online institutional repository of its research output. ACU Library is responsible for maintaining a digital copy of nominated research outputs in this repository.
a. The library is the official repository of the archive copy of ACU higher degree by research theses. Copies are supplied to the library by ACU’s Graduate Research office. In line with ACU’s Preparation and Presentation of a Higher Degree Research Thesis for Examination Guideline, the electronic version of each research thesis is made available by the library.
b. The library does not collect honours theses or other coursework theses.
a. Information resources may be withdrawn from the collection if any of the following criteria apply:
I. unnecessary duplication.
II. content has been superseded by a new edition or by other works.
III. poor physical condition.
IV. outdated or unsupported formats.
V. demonstrated use is minimal.
VI. no longer relevant to the University's academic program or research activities.
VII. culturally insensitive content.
VIII. physical items where archival access to an electronic version is guaranteed.
IX. incomplete sets of works (which cannot be used if they are not complete).
X. the library will review electronic subscriptions prior to the close of a subscription period in the context of funding and usage.
b. ACU Library will retain material relevant to the history of the university, its predecessor institutions, its campuses, its key stakeholders and its mission.
c. Tiles identified as the last copy on the national database may be retained or donated to another more appropriate library as a means of preserving potential research material.
a. Complaints about the inclusion or exclusion of material in the library collection will only be accepted in writing and should be addressed to the Library Director.
a. The library recognises its responsibility for ensuring resources in all formats, including print, graphic, audio, multimedia and digital format, along with the required equipment, are maintained in good condition for their usable life.
b. The library’s preservation strategies may include selective acquisition, processing, binding and repair, reformatting, environment control and conservation, disaster preparedness and response, staff and client education, and special housing for rare/curated/historical collections.
a. This document will be revised as necessary to reflect the changing information environment and the changing needs of clients of ACU Library.
a. For further assistance, please contact the library.