Collection Maintenance

The ongoing evaluation and maintenance of a library collection is essential as any other library function. A major part of this process is the "deselection" or "weeding" of currently held library materials. According to Evans, "Without an ongoing weeding program, a collection can quickly age and become difficult to use" [Evans. (2000). Developing Library and Information Center Collections p. 406]. The aim of the Library’s collection maintenance policy is to keep the library’s collection current and accessible to library patrons.

Weeding

Weeding of the Library collection is the responsibility of the Librarian, with aid from various staff members as needed. Weeding is an ongoing process and should correlate in a timely manner with evaluation of the collection.

Works to be considered for weeding include:

• Material containing obsolete, misleading, or outdated information. This is particularly important when evaluating the reference collection, as well as the science and information technology materials.
• Multiple copies. Generally only one copy of a given item will be kept in the Library collection. In the case of the Crow collections, more than three copies will be considered a surplus, but with a few definite exceptions. In the General collection, more than one copy would be an exception. The exception to this is course reserve materials; additional copies of reserve items may be acquired upon faculty request.
• Damaged titles that cannot be preserved due to time and monetary constraints or due to irreparable damage.

Preservation

Although the Library has only limited resources dedicated to the preservation of current holdings, some preservation of materials deemed significant to the collection is attempted when possible.

Changes in Collection Focus

The Little Big Horn College Library works to collect materials of varying complexity, formats, and viewpoints in order to best serve a community with diverse needs and interests. The Library’s collection policy is designed to facilitate that process.

The Library welcomes constructive input from College faculty, staff and students, as well as community members and will consider changing various parts of the collection subject focus upon written request.