California State University, Monterey Bay
AC-11: Open Access to Research

Collection Development & Access and the CSUMB Vision The electronic resources and the print and media collections (hereafter referred to as “the collections”) provided by the CSUMB Library reflect the core values expressed in the CSUMB Vision Statement. In addition to supporting the curricula and academic programs, the collections include materials which focus on technology infusion, multiculturalism, globalism, ethical reflection and practice, interdisciplinarity, applied and service learning, and collaboration. The collections reflect the values, cultures, languages, and technologies taught at CSUMB, as well as the various interdisciplinary approaches to scholarship. The library participates in statewide and regional cooperative consortia to purchase electronic resources and to provide access to print and media resources. The library also provides extensive assistance for use, interpretation, and access to materials through its website and its reference, instructional, circulation, course reserve, and interlibrary loan services. The library’s instructional and reference services support effective use and interpretation of the collections by providing guidance and assistance which foster information literacy, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. The library is an early adopter of proven information technologies. All of the library’s electronic resources are available to the campus community twenty four hours per day via the library’s website. Collection Development & Access and the Library Mission “The CSUMB Library Mission is to help prepare knowledgeable, resourceful and responsible citizens for California and the global community by facilitating active exploration, discovery and synthesis of information.”[1] CSUMB Library’s Mission Statement includes the following strategic goal: “To commit to continuous examination of the fundamental premises of the library's Collection Development Policy in light of both new and evolving programs at CSUMB.”[2] This policy should be considered a dynamic document, subject to adjustment and refinement in response to changes in the budget, curricula, academic programs, and available information technologies. The previous version of the Mission Statement included the following premise: “To the extent possible and economically feasible, the library acquires and provides access to resources in electronic format rather than print.” This approach to collection development is still utilized. In general, the CSUMB Library prefers electronic formats over print formats and access to information rather than ownership of materials. If no suitable or affordable electronic version of a relevant resource is available, the library will acquire a print version. At the same time, the library acknowledges that the print format remains an essential information resource in many disciplines; the library therefore collects accordingly. This approach to collection development provides convenient, timely, and cost-effective access to materials which have high relevance and high probability of use. To supplement the locally held print, media and electronic collections, the library provides a rapid interlibrary loan service. Collection Development & Access and the CSUMB Curricula The goal of collection development is to select information resources which directly support the CSUMB curricula and academic programs. The primary clientele (users) of the library’s collections and services are the students, faculty, and staff of CSUMB. The library supports their learning and teaching experiences and activities with relevant, cost-effective information and services. Given the CSUMB focus on undergraduate education and selected master’s degree programs, the library will not attempt to develop a comprehensive or research level collection. Overall, collection development for disciplines, areas, and topics which are part of the CSUMB curricula are selected at the initial study level or the basic level (see the section below on collection levels for descriptions). Selection at these two levels provides collection breadth guided by the curricula. The library is building collections at the advanced study level only for current (and future) programs which offer master’s degrees or post-baccalaureate certificates. Collection levels: The library faculty use following standard categories to characterize the various levels of selection: Comprehensive level: exhaustive Research level: adequate to support dissertation and independent research Advanced study level: adequate to support master’s degree programs and advanced undergraduate course work Initial study level: adequate to support undergraduate course work Basic level: adequate to support introductory overview of subject Minimal level: limited selection of very basic works Collection Development & Access and Intellectual Freedom The CSUMB library faculty and staff are committed to the concept of intellectual freedom as expressed by the American Library Association: “We celebrate and preserve our democratic society by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and ideas, so that all individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners - informed, literate, educated, and culturally enriched.”[3]