Introduction

Collection Development and its management are terms used by libraries to sets out principles and guidelines for developing and maintaining the Library’s collections in all formats. The quality of Library collections is fundamental to the University’s success in learning, teaching and research.

This statement provides a brief overview of the collection development policies to guide the Library staff; users and the BUE Library committee about the principles used for selecting all forms of materials; plans for the future growth of the collections and the policies governing the removal and replacement of materials.

Mission of the Library

To provide vibrant services using all possible resources to support the students learning choices and research requirements and attract high-quality researchers and students which will eventually contribute in the production of highly qualified citizens to be part of the development of Egypt and MENA region.

Collection Development Goals
  1. To strengthen further the quality of the Collection (regardless of format)
  2. To create, and keep under review, a Collection Development Policy that takes into consideration the academic & the student needs and the balance between printed and electronic-based material.
  3. To ensure day-to-day collection management procedures are reviewed and improved.
  4. To keep retention and donations policies under constant review.
Collection Development Aims
  1. To achieve the goals and to provide the best possible materials to underpin the quality of teaching, learning and research opportunities.
  2. To be a framework for the evaluation, selection and acquisition of materials in both printed and electronic format in order to meet the information needs and deliver an effective and efficient library service
  3. To provide guidance in determining priorities and limitations according to the budget.
  4. To take account of new areas of development and new work practices that impact upon the collection.
  5. To ensure that the Library’s collection is developed and managed in a transparent and responsible way.
User focus

The primary users of the BUE Library are the BUE community from the students & the academic staff.

The disciplines in the University are currently:

  1. Business Administration, Economics & Political Science.
  2. Engineering in six branches Civil, Architecture, Electrical, Petroleum, Chemical & Mechanical.
  3. Computer Science.
  4. Pharmacy.
  5. Dentistry.
  6. Nursing.
  7. Communication & Mass Media.
  8. Law
  9. Arts & Humanities in two branches English, psychology.
  10. Energy and Environmental Engineering.

The Collection Development Policy strives to ensure equitable & fair access for all regardless of location or area of study. There is a recognition that the Collection Development Policy has to be mindful of the constraints of resources and the need to optimize the acquisitions. Consequently, the Collection Policy is created to ensure that undergraduate need is systematically met whether it be in hardcopy or in electronic form.

Scope of the Collection

BUE Library includes nearly 45,000 core materials & access to more than 500,000 electronic materials through the subscription of Electronic Databases in various university disciplines. The Library has been developed from a zero basis and thus it has been focused acquisition of core material.

 

6.1. Library’s materials budget

Each year the library prepares the annual budget in August, for all types of materials like online database subscriptions, Individual journals & Books, etc.

 

6.2 Acquiring and/or providing access to resources:

  • Text and reading books

An email is sent twice by the Library on June & November to all Academic Staff requesting their requirements for text & reading books which will be used in the academic year to support the taught courses.

A minimum of 3 copies and a maximum of 5 copies of textbooks are ordered. or a maximum of 3 copies of reading books which support the taught courses. The aim is to provide this material by the beginning of the Academic year

  • Electronic resources

Due to the global trend to E-Resources in the libraries, the library includes access to more than 120,000 electronic materials through the subscription to Electronic Databases in various disciplines to support in the University’s success in learning, teaching, and research.

Once a year, a meeting with the library committee is held to evaluate the databases taking into account the yearly usage report for each one and also to consider the trials for the suggested databases.

Following an agreed list of Databases, we are starting negotiation with the supplier to obtain the best price/license.

Collection Management

Weeding

Weeding of the library’s collection on an ongoing basis is an essential part for any library both to maintain and develop the collections. In particular, it assists with:

  1. Maintenance of a current, accurate and useful collection.
  2. Identifying materials that need repair or replacement.
  3. Obtaining feedback on the collection’s strengths and weaknesses.
  4. Making the optimum use of space.

The Library removes and withdraws any materials based on the following criteria:

  1. The rate of usage depending on circulation statistics
  2. Existence of multiple copies of the same title and edition which remained unused
  3. The physical condition of the book.

Suggestions for how to benefit from the withdrawn items:

  1. Book fair with a sale for the students & the staff (academic & Administration).
  2. Donate to other libraries.
  3. Selling to secondhand books supplier.
Donations Policy

The library welcomes donations of books, journals, and other materials which directly support the curricular and research needs of the University and which fall within the scope of the Library collection policies as outlined above. Once accepted, materials become the property of the Library and are generally not returned to the donor. The Library reserves the right to select, distribute, and handle materials as deemed most appropriate.

Conditions of Acceptance:

  1. The Library prefers to discuss donations with all potential donors in the first instance. Donated material may only be delivered to the Library following discussion and agreement with the Librarian and the librarian responsible for Collection Development. The librarian responsible for Collection Development is responsible for the evaluation and selection of donations.
  2. It is a condition of acceptance that the Library reserves the right to retain or dispose of any donated material.
  3. In the case of large donations, the Library will request a listing of the items from which titles will be evaluated and selected in the first instance.
  4. The location of donated items will be decided by the Library in accordance with the availability within the building.
  5. Donated items will be cataloged, processed and made available to all members in the same way as all other Library acquisitions.

 

Acceptance Guideline:

Material donated to the library should:

  1. Be relevant to the University
  2. Normally be in English or Arabic
  3. Be in acceptable physical condition
  4. Be current (i.e. have recent publication date), unless the material is of historical value.
  5. Not duplicate material already available in the library. The only exception to this would be where additional copies of an item would meet current demand.

Material not accepted will include:

  1. Old editions of textbooks
  2. Journals available electronically via the Library (however in the case of rare or unique material exceptions may be made)
  3. Short/incomplete journal runs (however in the case of rare or unique material exceptions may be made)

The Library welcomes donations from University staff of publications authored or edited by them.

Review

The Collection Development Policy will be automatically reviewed at the beginning of the academic year by the Library and presented, with any amendments, to the Library committee for their consideration.