Periodicals are considered to be an integral part of the library collection and are basic to a good research resource library.
The following factors constitute a policy to govern the acquisition, retention or deletion of a periodical title in the collection:
I. Balance: It is essential to have a well balanced collection relating to University curricular offerings.
Preference is given to journals that uniquely support various subject areas or disciplines.
Library policy is to eliminate unnecessary duplication of material in similar journals and to provide only those titles that contain material not available in other journals.
II. Standard Selection Resources: Given an established need for the addition of a periodical, the selection of a title is guided by the use of certain standard directories, such as: Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory, Ulrich's Irregular Serials and Annuals, and evaluative, selective lists such as: Magazines for College Libraries, by Bill Katz, and Classified List of Periodicals for the College Library, by Evan Farber.
III. Essential Criteria Governing Acquisition, Retention, Deletion: (a) Indexing. A periodical should be indexed in standard indexing tools received by this library, otherwise back files generally remain unused for lack of accessibility tools. (b) Availability through other institutions. Journals required infrequently should be obtained via Interlibrary Loan procedures from our other SSHE libraries, members of the Susquehanna Cooperative or libraries participating in the OCLC system. Standards for College Libraries indicates that it is good practice for a library to own any title requested more than six times a year. (c) Pricing. When journals become excessively costly in proportion to the need and use received, an effort is made to eliminate or substitute a less costly source for the material. (d) Publication Record. When a periodical is frequently delayed, often in need of "claiming" or otherwise erratic in its publication, its value to the collection is weighed against the waste of time, money and effort to maintain an intact run.
IV. Special Materials: (a) Recreational reading materials for library patrons will be acquired judiciously and in accordance with criteria previously set. (b) Controversial subjects such as materials deemed "Propaganda/Politically biased" or "Obscene/Pornographic" by local standards may still have a place in an academic library, given certain circulation and display restraints and in accordance with the principles of academic freedom. (c) Gift subscriptions will be accepted by the Library; however, the eventual disposal of these materials will be determined by the appropriate library personnel.
