{"id":12480,"date":"2025-05-27T12:55:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T16:55:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/?page_id=12480"},"modified":"2025-05-27T12:55:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T16:55:21","slug":"collection-development-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/libraries.mercer.edu\/index.php\/university-libraries\/mercer-university-libraries-policies\/collection-development-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Collection Development Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Collection Development Policy<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In an age of increasing demand for cloud-based materials, along with diminishing budgets, a Library\u2019s acquisitions model must be focused and financially expedient. The Mercer University Libraries Collection Development plan relies upon a patron-driven acquisitions model (PDA) which meets these demands.<\/p>

Given that the Mercer Libraries have two major geo-physical locations in different cities, the print model becomes inefficient for those students who are not located near a campus, and cost-prohibitive when multiple copies of items must be purchased. As such, the purchase of print materials is no longer the first option. Wholesale print collections are also no longer purchased as a general rule, with rare exceptions. Rather, the emphasis is placed upon cloud-based resources when available.<\/p>

Per the University Libraries\u2019 previous collection development policy, required textbooks were not to be purchased, but only books within or adjacent to the discipline of the offered course. These items were largely procured through print-based approval plans from academic book vendors. The Libraries\u2019 strategy was based upon a print-based collection and required the physical presence of students within the geo-physical library. This model has been obsolete for well over a decade. In 2019, the current Vice Provost for the University Libraries terminated all print-based approval plans citing inaccurate purchases and inefficient spending, and adopted the PDA model, which enabled the purchasing of all materials requested by Mercer faculty and students, including required textbooks. Purchasing textbooks in eBook format (when available) eases the financial burden on students, and allows for greater access to course resources, especially for those students enrolled in cloud-based courses. In the case of required textbooks only available in print, the Libraries will purchase copies, and place them on course reserve in the appropriate campus library as a courtesy to faculty and a service to students.<\/p>

The patron-centric, demand-driven acquisitions model allows for students and faculty to articulate their needs directly to the Library through (1) Syllabi and (2) Direct requests, along with other means. University faculty are the experts in their respective fields, and along with input from graduate and undergraduate students, the information relayed to the Libraries is both accurate and representative of requests for materials that patrons will more readily utilize. Employing the PDA model, Librarians are no longer required to approximate the academic needs of faculty and patrons, but rather serve as information and method guides for those who submit resource requests. In addition, with a streamlined approach to purchasing processes implemented in 2019 by the Vice Provost for University Libraries, resource budgets have never been exceeded, and the Libraries have rarely denied a request (with the exception of cost-prohibitive databases), marking significant change from previous years.<\/p>

Given Mercer\u2019s commitment to online programs, along with the fact that resources must be shared by the two major libraries within the library system, electronic, cloud-based resources are the preferred medium. Moreover, many library users prefer materials that can be viewed online whether accessed from home, on-campus, or even within the library buildings themselves. Today\u2019s students enjoy visiting the Tarver and Swilley Libraries for their comfortable and active learning spaces, but recent usage statistics demonstrate that many of these patrons prefer accessing eResources online, with 95% of all collection use involving electronic resources.<\/p>

Thus, the Libraries\u2019 collection development policy emphasizes a preference for purchasing and subscribing to eBooks, online research databases, eJournals, and streaming media. These materials are cloud-based and available 24\/7 to all Mercer users, regardless of location and time. The resources are accessible through the library website for those with Mercer credentials. Electronic collections expand the serves of the Library beyond the 20th<\/sup> century concept of a brick-and-mortar facility and provide a readily accessible service to the Mercer community.<\/p>

The PDA collection development model utilizes the following methodology:<\/p>