This policy is a statement of the operating guidelines for the acquisitions and maintenance of materials of Abell Library. Finite resources necessitate careful materials selection and maintenance based on an understanding of the immediate and future goals of the Abell Library and Austin College. Define for library staff, users, administrators, trustees, and others the scope of existing collections.
Outline plans for future development of collections.
Provide appropriate selection and culling criteria for the library collections. Provide guidelines for the allocation of resources for the appropriate and equitable support of the Austin College community. Foster better communications and promote shared values among those responsible for the development and use of the collections. The highest priority of the library is the teaching program at the undergraduate level, along with the graduate program in teacher education. The library seeks to serve the needs of faculty members by acquiring materials that also will be used by members of the student body, by securing resources through interlibrary loan, and by negotiating contractsfor access to electronic information.