Library collection policy

Preamble

The Lusi Wong Library at Renison University College is part of the TriUniversity Group of Libraries (TUG) system.  TUG, a partnership of the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Guelph, provides a full range of library services to its members and access to over seven million items in the system.  Supplementing these vast holdings is Renison's specialized collection, which supports the College’s Social Work, Social Development Studies, East Asian Studies, Religious Studies, Applied Language Studies, Studies in Islam, and English as a Second Language programs. 

General purpose and objectives

The Library collects materials in the College’s areas of specialization to support undergraduate and graduate teaching, study, and research, as well as to facilitate the ongoing learning/research of both faculty and students.  Standard general reference tools are also made available.    

Selection responsibility

The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Librarian, who may consult with faculty members with particular expertise.  Recommendations and requests from faculty members are encouraged. 

Languages

English language materials are preferred for the general collection.  Materials in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean may be procured for East Asian Studies; materials in Arabic may be procured for Studies in Islam.

Geographic areas

Materials from any part of the world, with a preference for Canadian materials, may be collected to support teaching and research programs, subject to the language limitations. 

Chronological periods

Material with a recent imprint date is preferred; however, important or representative retrospective material is also collected.

Types and formats of material collected

Books, periodicals, newspapers, reference works, and government documents are collected in either print or electronic format, according to availability, cost, and anticipated use.  Textbooks are purchased when content is of lasting importance in its subject area or when required for Reserve readings.  Duplicate copies are acquired only in areas where heavy use makes multiple copies advisable and where the budget allows.  In general, the Library does not acquire materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the Library.

Access and related resources

Many external resources can be identified through the Library’s catalogue.  A broad spectrum of additional information and collection resources is available through cooperative arrangements and accessible via library servers, the Internet, document delivery, and interlibrary loan.

Donations

Donations of books and other materials are accepted with the understanding that ownership transfers to the Library.  The Library reserves the right to decide the retention, location, cataloguing, use, and disposition of gifts.  (See Donation Policy for details)

Special collections

The Library’s non-circulating archival collection includes historical materials concerning Renison College and its founders.  Among these materials are three special collections: the Bishop Renison Collection, the Denton Massey Collection, and the Florence Li Tim-Oi Collection.  A collection of Chinese language materials covering a wide range of subject areas is available for circulation.    

Care and maintenance

In an effort to retain materials in a format appropriate to their continued use, basic repairs are undertaken when possible.  When repair is impractical, the librarian will review items to determine whether they should be rebound, replaced, reformatted, or withdrawn.  Lost or damaged materials are evaluated for replacement according to their prior use, subject content, current and anticipated demand, cost, and availability for purchase, as well as all other selection criteria.

Appendix of existing substantive areas (according to principal classes of Library of Congress classification)           

The Library is pleased to accept donations with some conditions:

1.  As a result of space constraints, only donations in the following categories can be accepted: Social Work, Social Development Studies, English, Studies in Islam, Anglicanism, East Asian Studies, East Asian Christian and Christian missionary works, works written by faculty, staff and college fellows, archival materials (photos, letters, articles) concerning Renison University College or its founders. Donations in all categories are at the discretion of the Librarian.

2.  A donation may not be accepted if the Librarian determines that it will not enhance the collection (i.e. the book may be out of date, the Library may already have a copy, or the book may not be appropriate to the collection emphasis).

3.  On occasion, the Library has a book sale to raise funds. Donations of materials not appropriate for the Library will be accepted at that time. Books not sold at the Renison book sale are sent to the Feds Used Books.

4.  Income tax receipts are not generally given for book donations. In the exceptional case of the donation of a special collection, the librarian will consult with the Library Committee and the Office of Advancement. A tax receipt will be issued only after an official appraisal.