Since 1998, EPC requires a department to evaluate the ability of the library's collection to support new courses or programs (1). The evaluation will be more fruitful if a consultation meeting is scheduled with the library director. This evaluation will ensure that students will find what they need in our library and not have to rely extensively on interlibrary loan. It will also maintain the high quality of the library's collection. Too often, students are frustrated in their research because book-length discussions of their topics are inadequate or out-dated and key journals are not available. When planning a new course or program, it's wise to also plan for a strong library collection. This policy was designed to keep the library collection in step with the curriculum. Journals, article databases, and unusual collections, such as microform collections, are the focus of this evaluation. The book collection tends to be strong in most disciplines, but occasionally large purchases of books are needed to support new courses or programs.

The money needed to purchase material will come from new money, money designated to support the new course. For example, the normal policy related to journal subscriptions states that the cost of new journal subscriptions must nearly equal the cost of canceled journals. However, during this evaluation period, journals that support the new course can be purchased without canceling others. Similarly, articles databases are considered during this evaluation. Because of the expansive collection of research databases, new research databases are rarely purchased except when new courses are being considered. Finally, many information vendors are now bundling similar material into large digital or microfilm collections. These are often expensive and cannot be purchased except with new money. The library staff will assist your department in identifying these collection.

Contact the library director, Glenn Remelts, to set up a short consultation meeting. That meeting will establish the parameters of the evaluation. Based on the recommendations of departmental representatives, the library staff will evaluate the collection and provide a recommendation for specific purchases. If the evaluation is for a single course, the process should take less than a week.

In summary, this procedure should not be considered an onerous task, but rather it should be seen as an opportunity to enhance the research and curricular experience of your students.

 (1) An EPC proposal requiring library resource assessment for new course/program proposals was passed at the November 2, 1998 Faculty Senate meeting. The proposal states, "That all proposal for new courses and/or programs include an evaluation of library resource implications based on an assessment of book collections, databases, and journals conducted in consultation with the library staff."