VIVA procures materials for all publicly supported institutions of higher education in Virginia and provides the opportunity for private colleges and universities in the Commonwealth to purchase or subscribe to VIVA resources. VIVA aims to facilitate the cost effective acquisition, distribution and use of electronic information resources which lend themselves to shared access and to facilitate more effective sharing of locally based resources. Information resources appearing in a variety of formats will need to be physically available locally for the indefinite future. Subject to Steering Committee approval, VIVA procures resources collectively with VIVA funds as well as enabling individual institutions to acquire resources with local or pooled funds.
Resources consist of either totally new items or enhanced versions of existing print resources.
The VIVA collection is an evolving one that is subject to periodic review and change. VIVA aims to maintain an archive of highly utilized, core general interest and discipline specific resources. Thus it purchases, rather than leases, some resources so that they will be available permanently. Provide specialized discipline specific resources to meet widely demonstrated demand. Offer resources with significant added value over other traditional formats, for example, offering more extensive content, more timely availability, better access and functionality, or more rapid or remote delivery.