Materials that are out of print can require additional costs or steps in ordering. Preference for emphasis on material type varies and is described separately in the collection policy statement for each subject area. The library selects materials in the formats available that best meet the research needs of students and faculty, while balancing archival considerations. Most indexes and abstracts are obtained in digital form online to be widely available outside the library building. Journals are obtained online when available.
Online access is preferred over CD-ROM formats.
CDs will be considered at the special request of the faculty, when online versions are unavailable or otherwise problematic. For additional specific criteria for selection of digital resources see the Library's Guidelines for Selecting Digital Library Resources . The Library does not purchase materials for the general collection in outdated or other formats not supported by equipment to make them readily acccesible to users. Examples of outdated formats include filmstrips, floppy diskettes, and eight-track cassette tapes. Preference for emphasis on format may vary and is described separately in the collection policy statement for each subject area.