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• High degree of potential user appeal
• High artistic quality and/or literary style (Aesthetic considerations)
• Quality and variety of format
• Value commensurate with cost and/or need
• Timeliness or performance (lasting value of the material)
• Integrity/Moral values

2. Specific types of materials

Fiction. The library will not buy fiction that is anticipated to have only short-term interest among readers but will attempt to select established literary works and new works of promise in the literary field, especially works which would support literature course offerings. Evaluation will be based on the author’s earlier writings and current reader interest.

Foreign-language Materials. Except for dictionaries and materials required to support the foreign language programs and targeted collection strengths, the Benavides Library collects primarily English-Language materials. Literature and language materials needed to support the curriculum are collected as needed.

Non-print Materials. Non-print materials (such as electronic products {videotapes, compact discs, laser disks, and audiocassettes}, engineering drawings, slides, and other media) are considered research and/or institutional materials. Requests for non-print materials will be evaluated on the same basis as book materials unless specific criteria are delineated in the discipline policy statements.

Out-of-Print Materials. The majority of selections are current publications. The library recognizes need for some retrospective purchases, and systematically uses standard bibliographies and other evaluation tools to locate and fill gaps in the collection. However, in view of the difficulty and expense in obtaining rare out-of-print material, it is important to spend funds for valuable current publications of long-term worth, thus preventing a future need for retrospective buying.

The library recognizes need for some retrospective purchases, and systematically uses standard bibliographies and other evaluation tools to locate and fill gaps in the collection. However, in view of the difficulty and expense in obtaining rare out-of-print material, it is important to spend funds for valuable current publications of long-term worth, thus preventing a future need for retrospective buying.