About the Library

Sullivan Family Library is guided by the criteria for adequacy as determined by the ACRL Association of College and Research Libraries of the American Library Association.

The systematic growth of all existing subject collections and the planned expansion of Sullivan Family Library utilizing bibliographic research tools, collection criteria as outlined below and input from faculty will establish the library as a fully functional information center for the community. The collection size will grow to, and be maintained at, approximately 100,000 volumes.

All librarians share in selecting resources for the collection in assigned areas. The ultimate responsibility rests with the Director of the Library.

Librarians examine specific journals, book review publications, book vendor customized profiles and advertisements to select resources for the collection. Librarians also solicit assistance from faculty in their specific subject areas.

Faculty may request resources intended for direct instructional use in a course, except for required materials.

General recommendations of resources may be submitted to the subject selector for final approval. The library welcomes recommendations from faculty and staff with special expertise. Materials will not be purchased because they are required in the course syllabus. Selection standards will be applied to all acquisitions.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) requests are also used as a guide to selection. If the librarians note a heavily requested resource, consideration will be given to acquiring that source.

Criteria for Selection:

1. Reputation and/or significance of the author.
2. Publisher’s reputation.
3. Relation to the collection and to other resources on the subject.
4. Significance to the collection.
5. Relevance to users’ needs.
6. Currency.
7. Inclusion of bibliography, index, illustrations, maps, charts, appendices, etc.
8. Format availability.
9. Cost.
10. Monographs by faculty members.

Books

1. Textbooks: Single copies of textbooks will be purchased only when that title represents the best source of information in that field. Donated current textbooks may be added.
2. With a limited collection size, preference is given to purchasing new materials rather than multiple copies.
3. Choice of hard or paper copy is based upon anticipated use, long term value and price.
4. Acquisitions are primarily in the English language. Materials in foreign languages taught at the university may be included in the collection. However, materials for non-language courses that are published in languages other than English, with the exception of dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference tools, shall be acquired only when there is evidence of their usefulness to students and faculty.
5. Except for enduring works, focus is on current resources. Retrospective purchasing is done particularly in areas of major emphasis; when reprints of unacquired classics become available; when a geographic area or subject becomes more significant or when a subject field is added to the curriculum.

Ephemera: These are normally not purchased unless it strengthens the collection and are normally integrated into the regular collection.

Manuscripts: In general, the library does not collect manuscript materials. These may be defined as either work written by hand or the handwritten or typewritten copy of an author’s work before it is printed. Such works are to be added when: (1) the original work makes a significant contribution to the subjects and areas of knowledge collected by the library; (2) in the best judgment of the selectors the material is not likely to be published as a paper in a commercially available book or conference proceedings or an issue of a journal or periodical; or (3) the work is pertinent to the mission and meets the good or superior level of collecting areas designated by the Collection Development Policy.

Periodicals/Serials
The periodical collection within the library serves several purposes. Periodicals are a valuable source of scholarly material, which is available prior to being published in book form. They provide information not available in books; and also provide research materials for the advanced students and faculty. They are also a benefit to the library staff as selection aids and provide a source of professional literature.

Purchase of new periodical subscriptions will be for a one to three year period, with renewal of subscriptions contingent upon an evaluation of its relevance to course support, research and recreational use, and availability of indexing.

The subscription list is reviewed annually. Faculty are notified of possible deletions.

Faculty recommendations for new subscriptions may be made at any time.

Print Periodical Selection Criteria:

1. Value to the collection.
2. Index availability.
3. Availability of other titles on the subject.
4. Content life.
5. Availability of other formats (electronic, microform).
6. Cost.

Print Periodical Continuance Criteria:

1. Value to the collection.
2. Content life.
3. Usage.
4. Non-availability of other format (microform, electronic).
5. Cost.

The library keeps periodicals of long term value to its mission indefinitely. These titles include newspapers of significant reference value, major news magazines, and the leading journals in the fields that support the university curriculum and research.

Periodical Backfiles:

1. Print periodical issues are retained pending weeding by library staff using the Periodical Continuance criteria.
2. If the title is available online, it is preferred.
3. If available in microform, it will be acquired if practical.

Newspaper backfiles: The library maintains and acquires microform backfiles to the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The paper issues are retained until the microform copies are available, usually in two months.

Serials (annuals, yearbooks, almanacs, etc.) make up a large portion of the existing reference collection. They provide a compilation of readily accessible information on statistical, financial and biographical data that is used on a day-to-day basis in providing reference service.

Nonprint Materials

Formats acquired will be dependent upon available hardware.

Audiovisual Materials
Preference in acquisition of new audiovisual materials is given to materials which support the academic curriculum of the university. Recreational titles (drama, comedy, action/adventure) should be limited to Academy Award best picture titles, Hawaii or Pacific area titles, and recently released titles which contain intellectual, cultural, literary or historic value.

Microforms
The selection of microforms should, in general, be limited to out-of-print books, titles too costly to purchase in their original form and back files of periodicals. Microforms will be acquired if (1) materials are not available in any other form; (2) it is financially advantageous; (3) it is advisable for reasons of preservation of space.

Theses
Masters’ programs are responsible for having two bound copies sent to the library for the Theses Collection. These are cataloged; the first copy is library use only and the second copy may be circulated.

Electronic Resources
Electronic information resources may be obtained through lease, purchase, subscription, or as free internet resources.

In choosing an electronic resource over a print one, the electronic resource should have equivalent information and also provide other advantages (i.e., greater access, searching capabilities, full text/full image capability).