Library collection policies

The University of Melbourne Collection Policy 2006

2 Purpose

The Collection Policy outlines the University’s collection history and strengths in broad terms, and guides future collection development.  The policy is a living document, intended as a guide for decision-making, and is dependent on strong collaboration between academics, information staff and students, facilitated by library committees and the Library Resources and Services Advisory Group.  The policy defines and describes the purpose and goals for the collections and provides a framework against which collection acquisition, access and management decisions can be made.   Collection Policy aims will be incorporated into a 10-year space plan for the University of Melbourne library collections.

3 Scope

This document includes:

4 The University of Melbourne Collection

The University of Melbourne is constituted under the Melbourne University Act 1958.  Founded by an Act of Parliament in 1853, the University is one of Australia’s oldest and largest universities. It is a research-intensive, comprehensive institution, with an international profile through its reputation for scholarship and teaching.  It is a member of the Group of Eight http://www.go8.edu.au/ Australian research intensive universities and a founding member of Universitas 21 http://www.universitas21.com/, an international federation of universities. 

The collection held by the University has been built up over the history of the University since it was first established in 1853, though the major period of growth did not begin until the early 1960s.  The Library grew not as a single unified collection but as a network of subject-based libraries and formed collections.  These were frequently initiated by a major gift and subsequently maintained as a special collection. The collection today is housed in a network of libraries managed by Information Services.  Holdings of over three million volumes and a large ongoing acquisitions program make it the leading research collection in the state and one of the most important in Australia.   However, size alone is no longer a predictor of quality.  Collections must be relevant and must balance access with acquisition.  Information Services’ collection and access focus is on supporting the University’s teaching and research, and the new directions outlined in the Melbourne Model.  There is a secondary focus to develop and improve access to our existing rich historical collections.

Unless otherwise stated, the collections are predominantly in English.  The collection is strong in materials other than the traditional printed ones, including those in microform and electronic formats as well as manuscripts, maps, music and prints.  Many of the special collections are of international importance, such as those in Australiana, botany, and history of science.  The individual discipline-based collection policies provide more detail; however all collections, including those that are discipline-based, will be reviewed as part of the move to the new Melbourne Model.

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