The majority of materials are selected by the fisheries and wildlife sciences bibliographer, with priority given to requests from faculty and students. Many serial titles have established standing orders, and the libraries hold membership in some of the pertinent professional organizations, such as the American Fisheries Society. The Libraries maintain an approval plan for books from many university presses and significant trade publishers. There is no systematic retrospective purchasing. Gifts are not an important means of acquisition.
Most federal documents come by deposit.
Many FAO publications come on standing order. Because of local or regional studies, more semi-popular material is needed than for zoology.