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Library Collection Management

Selection of Resources

The Libraries select materials for the collections based on the following criteria: 

  • relevance to the curriculum and activities of the students, faculty, and staff;
  • reliability and reputation of content creators based on peer review and expert recommendation;
  • condition and durability of resource;
  • accessibility in both format and function;
  • cost (including initial purchase price, continuing access fees, and cost of processing and maintenance)

Duplicate Copies

Generally, the Libraries maintains only one copy of each title, whether print or electronic. Older editions will be removed when new editions are available and acquired. 

OWU patrons should utilize OhioLINK and ILL services to obtain additional copies or older editions. 

The Libraries will collect multiple copies for the following materials: 

  • faculty-authored publications;
  • key reference titles, including writing and citation guides; 
  • heavily used titles, including titles selected for campus-wide reads.

Textbooks

Subject-area textbooks can be purchased to be put on course reserve, but please be mindful of the following: 

  • both physical and electronic textbooks can extremely expensive;
  • textbooks are frequently -- sometimes annually -- updated so what's available now might be obsolete soon; 
  • electronic textbooks are often not available for institutional sale, and are usually only available for individual purchase or rent;
  • we cannot purchase titles that require an access code for additional online content; 
  • there are a wide selection of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Access Textbooks that are readily available for use, for free. 

Resource Requests

Requests for library materials are welcome, but will be subject to review based on the stated selection criteria. Please note that budget considerations -- especially regarding expensive resources like journal subscriptions and online databases -- means that not all requests can be fulfilled. See above for more information on selection and purchasing guidelines. 

To request resources be purchased for the library, please fill out the form below. (You can also click here to access the form.) Please provide as much information about the resource as possible.