While we call it "book ordering," professors may order any non-serial items with departmental "book" funds. That includes DVDs, electronic books, microfilm, etc. "Book" funds cannot be used to purchase an item that has an annual or recurring cost, like a journal. Refer to the Journal Ordering page for instruction for ordering journals. 

Calvin students depend on the expertise of professors to maintain a collection that supports the curriculum and their research. Approximately 60% of the library’s book budget is "loaned" to academic departments for this purpose. Each academic department appoints a book order coordinator (BOC) who encourages colleagues to order responsibly and who monitors the department’s book budget throughout the year.  Linda McFadden, Collection Development Librarian, oversees the process; faculty members may also receive (or solicit) collection development advice from their department's librarian.

(Note that this process applies only to the college.  Members of the seminary should contact Luge Schemper for details about book ordering for the seminary.) 

To help the book ordering process go smoothly, please note:

• All items should be sent through the department's BOC. The BOC will forward requests to Jessica Dickson.
• Please include special instructions - i.e. "Need for a class in three weeks," "Can wait to be ordered until next fiscal year," "I need this exact edition"
• A monthly Fund Status Report will be sent to the department's book order coordinator.
• Use the Acquisitions Status Viewer to see what your colleagues have ordered. 

Orders may be submitted by:

• Using a Book Ordering Form
• Email with a link to the item or the full bibliographic information included
• Returning Choice cards
• Sending a paper catalog through InterCampus Mail. Please send the entire catalog, not just a single page.

On May 1, all remaining funds return to the library and are spent at the discretion of librarians. This deadline allows the librarians to retain better control of year-end funds, and to build up areas of the collection that may need development. Direct questions about book ordering to Linda McFadden or your department’s librarian.