Managing our Collections

Collections Concept

In keeping with the Comprehensive Content Strategy, the Library is developing a new Collections Concept to inform the ways in which collections are managed.

• Operational (Everyday) Collection - Items are purchased digitally if possible but the Operational Collection also includes items not available electronically. Our new and most heavily used print items are housed in the Information Commons (IC).
  Collection Development Plan: Operational Collection (PDF)

• Research Collections - These collections are being built from specialist areas of the wider library collections. They each have a specific focus and are curated with that purpose in mind. As such, their collection development guidelines vary and are still undergoing further development.
  Collection Development Plan: Architecture and Landscape Collection (PDF)Collection Development Plan: East Asian Studies Collection (PDF)

• Special Collections, Heritage & Archives (SCHA) - The Special Collections, Heritage and Archives collections contain rare, unique and archival materials. They are managed by a specialist team within the Library.

• Conservational Collection - This collection consists of material that is not required for everyday use but which the Library conserves as part of a wider network of academic libraries and cultural organisations. This protects access to content for posterity.
  Collection Development Plan: Conservational Collection (PDF)

• Unstructured Collections - These collections are made up of print material that does not fall into any of the above categories. In time they will either be moved into the Research & Cultural Collections or be withdrawn from our holdings.

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Diversifying our Collections

The Library is committed to recognising the historical and active biases born from a lack of diversity across the Library workforce and wider University community. We will continue to  invest our resources to include those missing voices in our collections and wider work.

We encourage students and staff to submit requests for resources that tackle these biases. Additionally, we work with student partners to curate thematic exhibitions and collections in the IC.

Recommend resources for the Library (Log-in Required)

This is still an area of ongoing development within our collections, and we hope to provide more information about the work we’re doing in this area soon.

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Withdrawal of Material

Print items that are identified for withdrawal under individual collection development guidelines will be submitted first to collective collection development schemes, the UK Research Reserve (UKRR) and the UK Distributed Print Book Collection. If they are identified under these schemes as the last copies available in the UK's academic libraries, they will be kept as part of the conservational collection. All other items will be offered to book sellers for resale, or rehoming. If not suitable for resale or rehoming they will be sent for recycling.

The Library does not actively remove electronic material, other than via the cancellation of electronic subscriptions. We may suppress access to superseded editions of electronic books, or choose not to index some free material via StarPlus. We work with publishers to ensure that we retain ongoing access to our bought electronic material, but sometimes for commercial and licensing reasons beyond the Library’s control, we will lose access to content.

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Donations

The Library does not actively seek donations of printed material. The Library’s Content Strategy outlines how the Library provides access to the content required for teaching and research at the University. The assumption is that wherever possible, content will be provided digitally. With that in mind, the Library will only accept donations of printed material that meet the specific criteria.

More information about the criteria required for donation can be found on the Donations webpage.