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Mason Library - About

Mission

The collection supports the curriculum and programs of Keene State College as well as the research needs of the faculty to the degree possible within the limits of space and budget. The collection's primary focus is support for the undergraduate and graduate programs. Access to materials needed by faculty for research are acquired or borrowed as space and budgets allow.

Selection Guidelines for Resources

To meet the stated mission, the library provides access to materials in areas of knowledge relating to and in support of the College’s academic curriculum. As funds allow, items are also purchased to support faculty research and general interest. Standard collection development criteria will be applied to all formats consistently. Considered criteria include:

  • Need
  • Demand
  • A variety of academic levels to serve a wide range of interests and abilities
  • Opposing sides of controversial issues to aid students with critical thinking
  • Strength of present holdings in same or similar subject areas
  • Suitability of format to content and compatibility with college-owned equipment
  • Authoritativeness of the author or reputation of the publisher
  • Favorable reviews:
  • Usage statistics of similar items
  • Number of other libraries that provide access to the same resource
  • Availability of funding
  • Lasting value

Other Considerations

  • Duplicate copies of materials are purchased, or accepted as gifts, only under unusual circumstances determined by demand, usage, or reserve statistics
  • While the need for retrospective items is recognized for some fields of study, the emphasis is on purchasing current items with perceived long-term worth
  • The library acquires materials in a variety of formats including books, periodicals, electronic resources, and audiovisual materials
  • The library explores new delivery methods for materials
  • Materials with an emphasis on local college, University System, and New Hampshire-related topics are collected whenever possible
  • Lost and stolen materials will be replaced, if available and deemed to be pertinent, as funds allow. If the original material is no longer available, it may be replaced by materials on the same topic
  • When there is an option between paper and hard-bound copy, the choice is based upon expected use, lasting value of content, and cost differential
  • The library will purchase materials in support of campus multicultural and diversity initiatives.

Selection Responsibility

The Collections Strategies and Services Librarian has primary responsibility for coordinating the selection, development, and maintenance of the library’s collections. These responsibilities include:

  • Outreach to the campus community about collections and acquisitions including books, serials, and databases
  • Taking into consideration the voices of departmental faculty in collection development 
  • Selecting materials in all formats including print, digital, and open access
  • Developing and maintaining collections for currency, support for curricula, and use
  • Assessing collection strengths and weaknesses
  • Management of gifts to the library’s collections