Collection Development Policy
Revised Spring 2006
Purpose
- To support research and instruction
- To provide a culturally diverse collection of media resources
- To support and enrich the university’s cultural and intellectual resources
- To support the curricula in all undergraduate and graduate disciplines
- To support both core and elective courses
- To select titles that hold interdisciplinary interest
Audience
Primary
Faculty
- research
- instruction
- personal use
Secondary
Students and staff
- research
- instruction
- personal use
Other
- Other universities through film rental program
- Other institutions through film rental program
- Denton area residents
- North Texas community
Scope of Coverage
Visual formats
All new titles should be purchased in DVD (Region 1 or All Region) format when available. Exceptions include expensive educational titles where concerns with durability exist.
Although the collection includes materials produced throughout the world, most must be obtained through US distributors due to playback compatibility issues. Videocassette programs will be purchased in the NTSC standard if available; programs in all other standards will be purchased on a highly selective basis. International films such as PAL, SECAM, and other DVD region encoding will be considered for purchase if unavailable in any other format. The Media Library has one multi-format VHS player.
No other formats will be considered for addition to the collection, such as filmstrips, laserdiscs, 16mm films, ¾” U-matic videos, Beta videos, or computer application software
Audio formats
All new titles should be purchased unabridged on audio CD when available. Audiocassettes will be considered for purchase if unavailable on CD.
Languages
Materials in all languages are collected. English language subtitles are preferred on all foreign materials. Dubbed films will be purchased only if no subtitled version can be obtained.
Videos with closed-captions are preferred.
Chronology
Documentary
Older documentary programs will be purchased only when they are classic titles or when it has been determined that no more recent production offers the same level of coverage in terms of content or quality.
Feature Films
There are no chronological guidelines for the purchase of feature films.
Public Performance Rights
Educational materials will be purchased with Public Performance Rights when possible.
The need for Public Performance Rights for other titles will be determined and negotiated as needed and/or requested.
Selection
Responsibility
- Faculty are responsible for recommending materials in the fields of their particular expertise to support the curriculum and research mission of the university.
- Subject liaisons are responsible for recommending materials in the fields of their particular expertise to support the curriculum and research mission of the university.
- Film/Media Librarian is responsible for selecting materials to support the curriculum and research mission of the university as well as identifying weak areas in the collection.
- Students and staff are encouraged to recommend materials to support the curriculum and research mission of the university.
Selection Criteria
- Quality of content
- Lasting content
- Unique content
- Currency
- Accessibility
- Awards/Recognition
- Technical quality: creative use of medium, editing, photography, sound quality
- Aesthetic appeal
- Cost
- Length
- Format
- Reputation of distributor
- Reviews
- Themes presented (interdisciplinary)
- Previews
- Recommendations (by faculty, staff, students)
- Art house films
- Bonus features
- Enhanced editions
Categories
- General: Above
- Documentary: Aesthetic appeal, accuracy, timeliness of information, descriptive/analytical treatment
- Feature: Print quality, depth of coverage for directors, genres, balance among genres, balance with English and foreign language productions, director, production company, cast, display formats (widescreen, etc), dubbed/subtitled
- Performance: composer, performers, choreography, dance/opera company
Selection Tools
- DVD Newsletter
- Video Librarian
- Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com)
- Film journals
- Distributor catalogs
- National Media Market review materials
- Student/Faculty/Staff recommendation forms
Gifts
Gifts will be accepted if they meet the collection criteria of the collection. Materials must be legally acquired and must be in the accepted audio or visual format. All donors must agree to the Libraries' gift guidelines and must complete a University of North Texas Libraries Gift Agreement Form. Acceptance of a gift does not guarantee inclusion in the collection.
Duplicate Copies
Duplicate copies of titles may be ordered if periodic evaluation of circulation statistics proves that additional copies of specific titles are required to meet patron’s needs.
Duplicate copies may be ordered on newer formats as older formats become obsolete.
Replacements
A replacement copy(ies) may be ordered if materials become damaged beyond repair or extensively worn, to protect the equipment and provide the best quality copies to patrons.
Deselection/Weeding
The collection will be assessed on a regular basis. Items may be deselected or discarded if they meet the following criteria:
Weeding criteria:
- Circulation
- Physical condition
- Timeliness
- Format obsolescence
Transfers
Media items may be transferred from one format to another as needed and/or required with permission from the distributor. If permission cannot be obtained or the material cannot be purchased at a reasonable price, the Media Library follows the guidelines set forth in Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 108 of the U.S. Code.
Collection Evaluation
The collection is evaluated on a regular basis. Internal and external circulation statistics are the primary means of evaluating the usefulness of the collection.
Collection Evaluation Tools
- Circulation statistics
- Surveys
- Reserve statistics
Copyright and Licensing for Public Performance
Only legally acquired materials will be added to the collection.
The UNT Media Library holds no public performance rights for many of its feature films. Any public showing that is not part of face-to-face teaching may require a license. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring department or organization to request that permission be secured and to pay the licensee for any public showing.
Censorship
Materials are acquired through objective selection and evaluation. The Media Library practices fair and unbiased selection and is opposed to censorship.
Special Collections
Film and Video Collection on Aging
The Film & Video Collection on Aging at UNT consists of two originally separate collections: the Gerontological Film & Video Collection (GFVC) and the National Media Owl Award Video Collection (Owl).
The purpose of the collection is to make audio-visual media on aging available to the widest possible audience. The Collection is home to over 750 audio-visual titles concerned with different aspects of aging and long-term care, from feature films to clinical programs. The UNT Media Library maintains and circulates this collection of 16mm films and videos. All titles are available for rental for classroom showings or inservice education.
New Formats
Media Library staff will maintain an awareness of new formats and will plan for collection growth and the purchase of equipment to support emerging formats.
Television Series
Television series are purchased on the basis of:
Awards:
- BAFTA: Drama or Comedy Series
- Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: Emmy for Drama or Comedy Series
- Golden Globe: Drama or Comedy Series
- Directors Guild of America: Drama or Comedy Series
- Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films: Best Network Television Series or Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series
Coverage:
- PBS Frontline
- PBS American Experience
- PBS P.O.V.
Reviews and interest:
- Premium cable channel programming (HBO, Showtime) receiving favorable professional reviews.
- Groundbreaking series (All in the Family, The Shield, M*A*S*H)
- “Cult Classics” (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, South Park, The Simpsons)
- Programs with local/regional interest
- Selector’s choice
Representative seasons may be purchased.
Digital/Streaming Collections
The decision to purchase digital rights will be made on the basis of
- Cost
- Technical and contractual restrictions
- Nature of the course
- Frequency with which it will be offered
- Number of students involved
Some providers/distributors do not offer digital rights to their materials, or are placing such restrictions on their use that purchase of digital rights is not practical.