A PDF of the full policy is available to download.
Executive Summary
Library and Information Service (LIS) purchases and makes available library and information resources to support the learning, teaching and research activities of Aston University. In common with the University’s policy of devolving responsibility and decision making to Schools, LIS manages its collections in a style that allow as many decisions as possible to be made in partnership with Schools, whilst still maintaining a consistent service across the University. The underlying philosophies are
1. To make most effective use of the budget available
2. To maximise access as far as possible by taking advantage of electronic resources
3. To maintain a dynamic collection which provides for the current interests of the academic community
The LIS collection management policy can be summarised as follows
• LIS will inform the University of the level of annual library and information resources budget required to maintain a steady level of service, taking into account resources costs and changes in the University.
• A Library and Information Resources (LIR) Model is used for determining the distribution of the library and information resources budget between Schools and this is rerun every two years
• Simultaneously with this, a major consultation will be undertaken with Schools, on library subscriptions every two years
• Schools distribute the budget available to them work within their School according to their own preferred methodology but any sharing of resources across Schools is arranged according to LIS policy
• Book selection for research is carried out by academic staff and for teaching by both academic and LIS staff with LIS Information Specialists acting as gatekeepers.
• Reading Lists are collected from Schools and used to generate the core of teaching stock.
• Electronic resources are selected whenever possible as this facilitates the maximum access and minimum use of space.
• Print issues of journals are not normally made available in the library when electronic access is available.
• Current awareness services backed up by ILL are used as an alternative when purchasing a journal is not a sound option.
• Books and journals that receive low use are transferred to LIS stores from which they are available for loan and from where use levels continue to be monitored.
• Books and journals are discarded when they are no longer relevant to current needs of the University. This is done in consultation with the relevant academic staff. Disposal policies are in place to ensure that maximum benefit is gained from discarded stock.
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