Wayne State University, a Carnegie-classified "Research University - High Research Activity" institution, serves a diverse community of users in Southeast Michigan. The Wayne State University Library System (WSULS) consists of five physical libraries, Purdy/Kresge Library, David Adamany Undergraduate Library, Vera P. Shiffman Medical Library, Arthur Neef Law Library, The Walter P. Reuther Library, and the library website. The objective of the collection is to support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the institution by cultivating a broad, diverse collection to support a range of research and scholarly needs of a diverse, urban institution. WSULS ensures a solid foundation for a collection for a variety of users in various disciplines, while allowing freedom of choice to meet immediate and/or unanticipated needs through various collection decisions.
The purpose of this statement is to provide guidelines for the continuing evolution, growth, and maintenance of the collections of the WSULS. Collections are broadly defined in this policy to include those that are physical or digital and either owned, licensed, or Open Access. We provide a wide variety of materials to support our dual teaching and research mission ranging from introductory to high-level materials. Our overall objective in articulating collection goals and policies is to ensure that the collections support the community's curricular and research needs. This statement is intended to guide collection decisions and to apprise the community of the motives and standards that inform our collection development endeavors. This document is not static and is continuously evolving to meet, or anticipate, the ever-changing needs of the University community.
The primary patrons of the WSULS are the university’s students, faculty, and staff. To support research and teaching, the WSULS is committed to collecting and making available materials to meet current and evolving needs of the university. WSULS follows the ACRL's (Association of College and Research Libraries) statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the WSU (Wayne State University) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement. We cultivate a landscape of intellectual diversity in the materials that we collect. The WSULS adheres to the WSU Accessibility Policy and selects electronic materials prioritizing those with/or compatible with adaptive technologies.
While the ultimate responsibility for this policy rests with the Dean of the University Libraries, responsibilities for assessment, maintenance, and collection alignment lies primarily with members of the library’s Acquisitions and Collection Development Teams in collaboration with the Subject Liaisons. Selection processes are cooperative and can involve consultation with faculty and departments. Student and staff requests are always welcomed and will be considered in accordance with the selection criteria.
Librarians serve as subject liaisons/bridges to various departments across the University. In this role, they are responsible for developing familiarity with the curriculum of their departments and with the relevant parts of the collection that serve their subject areas. Librarians also have the responsibility to keep faculty informed of important changes regarding the collections.
The WSULS aims to anticipate evolving areas of teaching and research needs in an effort to provide resources to support them. Selection criteria to achieve this goal includes:
With consideration for the criteria above, the following are examples of resources we are unlikely to acquire:
WSULS is committed to Open Access and allocates a portion of our budget to support and maintain Open Access materials and initiatives. Examples include:
Statewide, regional and national collaborations and partnerships are important to WSULS' commitment to supporting teaching and research needs. Developing and strengthening partnerships is a critical component to realizing the Collection Development strategic goals. Our partnerships facilitate the sharing of expertise and provide access to a wider range of resources.
There are additional factors outside of the Selection Criteria that help guide collection decisions.
Factors include but are not limited to:
Weeded materials are measured using a number of criteria including; format, condition, collaborative holdings, usage, accuracy and space. Items that are included in special collections or have retention considerations are not considered for withdrawal. Replacements are purchased only if resources are in poor condition or newer editions are available.
The WSULS collections uphold intellectual freedom principles outlined in the ALA's Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View Statements to support teaching, learning and research needs of the university. Our commitment to intellectual freedom provides our community with a collection that includes a variety of sources and viewpoints, which is integral to teaching and learning
In essence the ALA Bill of Rights outlines:
The WSULS has a duty to uphold intellectual freedom and represent various viewpoints and topics in the collections. It is an individual’s right to disagree with points of view and ideas expressed. Challenges to materials should be made through the Reconsiderations for the Collection form. Challenged materials will be reviewed and discussed by appropriate personnel. Once a decision is reached the result will be delivered via the email provided in the form.
WSULS accepts gifts on a case-by-case basis. Gifts must first be approved by a subject liaison and then cleared by the Dean of the University Libraries. Due to limitations of space and our selection criteria, materials that are not preapproved will not be accepted. For more information please view WSULS' guide to gift giving.