New formats of information resources are appearing, adding to the panoply available. The prices of newer formats are adding to the costs, and in the last few years, the costs of library materials have risen at rates higher than the consumer price index. Library budgets have not expanded at the same rate as costs of materials. The funding situation has been exacerbated by an Australian dollar, which has fallen in value in relation to other currencies. Effective research demands an expanding infrastructure, including wide information access.
Scholarly communication is said to be in a crisis.
Making decisions about the purchase of individual items for library collections requires a clear understanding of the various needs of library users and the determination of overall priorities. The purpose of this document is to outline the background to collection development at The University of Queensland and to identify general principles for shaping the Library s collections. These principles will change over time, requiring the policy to be updated on a regular basis. Also included are overviews in each disciplinary area, outlining the general approach to the discipline and the emphasis in collecting. In addition, special collections are identified and described.