Collection Development Procedure
The Ray Howard Library at Shoreline Community College, henceforth referred to as “The Library” within this document, aims to collect resources that support the strategic plan and goals of the college. For more information about the goals and strategic plan see, Library Annual Review. The goal of collection development is to promote the acquisition and maintenance of learning materials that meet the evolving information needs of our students, faculty, and staff, by providing access to a variety of relevant, enriching, and representative resources. The collection aims to represent and reflect its users in service of our college community’s needs and strengths. The Library provides accessible digital and physical materials that support a variety of learning styles and educational needs to promote the academic success and empowerment of our students. In its collection development, the Library advocates for the use and adoption of OER (Open Educational Resources) in order to remove cost and access barriers to course materials.
To support students with disabilities and comply with accessibility guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act, the library’s digital content meets the WCAG 2.1 guidelines at an AA level or above.
The Library adheres to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ (IFLA) Statement on Libraries and Intellectual Freedom. To best serve our patrons as learners and active citizens, The Library aims to challenge censorship and maintains that “ Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation” (Library Bill of Rights).
In addition to meeting the general criteria of materials selection, and in recognition of Shoreline Community College’s intention to use more Open Educational Resources (OER), OER should meet these specific criteria:
Faculty Librarians, as part of their collection development duties, may recommend course-related materials such as OER textbooks to the Instructional Faculty in the subject area for which they collect.
In addition to meeting the general criteria for materials selection, electronic resource formats should meet these specific criteria:
The Library may purchase textbooks as available funds allow to support student success and lower barriers to access. The Reserves collection may consist of textbooks on loan from Faculty or Departments that are made temporarily available for in-Library borrowing for a duration requested by the owner. Maintaining a textbook collection based on instructor-assigned materials is not sustainable long-term, as needs change from quarter-to-quarter and new editions are consistently being released. The Library will buy textbooks for the collection on a case-by-case basis when made possible by budget status and specialized funding. Most textbook purchases will be added to the Reserves collection to maximize student access to high-use materials and these textbooks may also be moved to the Main Collection to reflect changes in usage and need.
In addition to its general collection, The Library has specialized collections of materials. All of these collections are subject to the criteria established in this policy for materials selection and weeding. Deaccessioning can be considered at the Library Planning Council level. Special Collections include (but are not limited to):
Items in the library collection that are outdated, rarely used, unnecessarily duplicated, no longer covered in the college curriculum, worn-out, or damaged will be withdrawn from the collection, with input from subject-specialist faculty when appropriate. Specific weeding projects will be recorded in the Library Program Review. Library Program Review 2024-25.docx
Weeding and sustained, periodic review of collected materials is a necessary part of maintaining a current, accurate, and useful collection, making the best use of the Library’s physical space, improving the appearance and browsability of the collection, identifying materials needing repair or replacement, and removing redundant information from the collection. Weeding extends to all print and digital materials in the library collections.
The Collection Development Policy Statement will be updated or changed as needed to keep it current and completely reviewed every three years by faculty librarians and library staff.
Date of Adoption:
September 2025
Anyone who objects to a specific item in the Shoreline Community College Library collection and wishes to have it removed must submit a completed “Request for Review” form. The form can be requested from the Library front desk. If accommodation is needed in accessing the form, an email should be sent to librarians. Requests must be submitted title by title; i.e. one form per title. The requestor must complete all the form questions for the request to be considered.
The library administrator will log receipt of the form and open a file on the request. No item in question will be withdrawn before the review process is completed and a final decision is reached.
The administrator will forward the "Request for Review" form to the selection librarian assigned to the subject area in question to discuss the request and gather information. The assigned selection librarian will then write a response explaining the decision. This explanation may include:
• How the material relates to the educational goals of the College and the Library
• Criteria used for selection, aligning with the Library’s Collection Development Policy and including published reviews if applicable
• Patron requests for and use of the material Copies of the letter will be submitted to the Vice-President for Instruction and the Library Administrator.
Within three (3) weeks of receipt of the response from the Library, the complainant may forward a written appeal to the administrator in charge. Upon receipt of the written appeal, the administrator in charge will establish and call the first meeting of an ad hoc Review Committee, whose members will be:
• One (1) faculty member from the subject area in question or faculty member selected by faculty senate
• The Library Administrator
• One (1) student, selected by the Associated Student Council.
• The appropriate selection librarian.
The chair will be selected by the Review Committee itself. The Committee will review the written request and read, listen to, and/or view the material in its entirety. The selection librarian will provide information to the Committee which may include:
• Library collection objectives that are met by the material;
• Reviews from professionally recognized sources;
• Statements by instructors whose students use or may use the material;
• Any other material that could help define the purpose and usefulness of the material.
The Committee may interview any other individuals, including the complainant, and may seek counsel and advice from the Office of the Attorney General. Within 60 days of receipt of the written appeal, the committee will reach its decision and forward its recommendation, along with all supporting material, to the Library Administrator for implementation.
The administrator will notify the complainant in writing of the Committee's decision and inform the Vice President of Instruction. Within two (2) weeks of notification of the Committee's decision, the complainant or a member of the Review Committee may forward a written appeal to the Vice President of Instruction. The appeal decision will be based on material included in the file. Material which has undergone a review may not be challenged again for (1) calendar year from the date the Review Committee's recommendation is sent to the Library Administrator. This review process will apply equally in the case of persons who wish to challenge the Library's decision not to include certain material in the collection. In that case, a request for the addition of material may be submitted.
