University Mission Statement: The mission of Gardner-Webb University is to prepare graduates for leadership and service in their professional careers and in their personal lives. Rigorous and innovative degree programs, combined with distinctive experiential learning opportunities, shape students into thinkers, doers, and world-changers. Forged within a supportive and diverse Christian community, our students emerge ready to impact their chosen professions, equipped with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspired to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others.
Library Mission Statement: The mission of the Library is to provide Gardner-Webb University students, faculty, and staff with the resources, support services, and spaces needed to excel in their academic, creative, and civil pursuits in order to serve the community for God and humanity.
Objectives of the Collection
Support for Curriculum: The collection will provide resources that directly support the instructional programs and curricula of the university.
Support for Research: The collection will acquire and maintain materials that facilitate faculty and student research, promoting innovation and academic inquiry.
Support for Reading: The collection will acquire and maintain popular reading materials that encourage reading and literacy as a leisure activity among our campus community.
Access and Discovery: The collection will be organized to ensure efficient access and discoverability, enabling users to locate and use resources effectively.
Scope of the Collection
Subject Coverage: The collection will cover a broad range of subjects, with an emphasis on areas of strength within the university's academic programs. Priority will be given to materials that support current and emerging areas of study.
Formats: The collection will include a variety of formats, including print books, e-books, journals, databases, multimedia, and digital collections. The library will prioritize acquiring resources in formats that best meet the needs of users.
Language: The primary language of the collection will be English. However, materials in other languages will be acquired as necessary to support language programs, cultural studies, and research needs.
Chronological Coverage: The collection will encompass a range of historical periods, with an emphasis on acquiring materials that are current and relevant to contemporary academic discourse. Seminal works will be retained in each discipline area.
Collecting Guidelines for Discipline Areas: [language, chronology, geographical, format]
General Collection: Collecting will primarily be in English. There are no set chronological limitations, however priority will be given to the most recent 10 years of publication. Equal priority will be given for print and electronic books. Electronic format is preferred for journals.
Business: Collecting will primarily be in English with select content in other languages as requested by faculty to support the curriculum. Chronological limitations should focus on the most recent 5 years of publishing in the discipline. Electronic format is preferred for books, journals, and AV media. A print collection pertaining to the theoretical constructs, history, and seminal works of disciplines within the College will be maintained.
Divinity: Collecting will primarily be in English with supportive content in Hebrew and Biblical Greek. There are no set chronological limitations. Print format is preferred for books and monographs with adequate eBook coverage to support remote learners. Electronic format is preferred for all journals, periodicals, and AV media.
Education: Collecting will primarily be in English. Chronological limitations should focus on the most recent 10 years of publishing in the discipline. Seminal, theoretical, and methodological works outside the chronological scope can be retained. Electronic format is preferred for all book, journal, and AV media.
Health, Medicine, and Psychology: Collecting will primarily be in English. Chronological limitations should focus on the most recent 5 years of publishing in the discipline. Seminal, theoretical, and methodological works outside the chronological scope can be retained. Electronic format is preferred for all book, journal, and AV media.
Language, Literature, and Art: Collecting will primarily be in English, but will include support for Spanish, French, German, ASL, and other languages as needed. There are no set chronological limitations, but trending topics and issues in the disciplines will be considered. Either Print or ebook formats will be considered, depending on availability. Electronic format is preferred for all journals, periodicals, and AV media.
History and Social Sciences: Collecting will primarily be in English. There are no set chronological limitations. Print format is preferred for books and monographs with adequate eBook coverage to support remote learners. Electronic format is preferred for all journals, periodicals, and AV media.
Government Documents: Collecting will be in English, unless otherwise specified by the FDLP. There are no set chronological limitations. Electronic format is preferred; FDLP selects print content that is sent to the library’s collection.
Popular Reading: Collecting will primarily be in English. This collection includes fiction, local authors, teen, and YA books. Chronological limitations should focus on the most recent 3 years, however older books will be considered as needed to complete series or include local authors. Print format is preferred.
Archives: Collecting will primarily be in English, as the scope of the archival collection has a regional focus. Ther are no set chronological limitations. Collection acquisition prioritizes regional and local content pertaining to the NC Foothills, SC Upstate, and Cleveland County. Non-regional collections that support scholarly research, community engagement, are of historical significance, and are relevant to the broader scope of the archival collection will be considered.
Selection Criteria
Relevance to Curriculum: Materials will be selected based on their relevance to the university’s academic programs and their ability to support the instructional and research needs of faculty and students. Professors are encouraged to submit requests for materials that support their program areas.
Authority and Credibility: Priority will be given to materials produced by reputable authors, publishers, and organizations, with consideration given to peer-reviewed and scholarly sources.
Timeliness: The library will prioritize acquiring materials that are current and reflect the latest developments in their respective fields.
Diversity and Inclusion: The library will actively seek to include materials that represent diverse perspectives and voices.
Cost and Budget Considerations: Selection decisions will take into account the cost of materials relative to the library’s budget, with consideration given to the long-term value and sustainability of resources.
Usage Potential: Materials will be selected based on anticipated demand, potential usage, and relevance to the needs of the university community.
Acquisition Strategies
Purchase: The primary method of acquisition will be the purchase of materials, with an emphasis on building a collection that is sustainable and cost-effective.
Gifts and Donations: The library will accept gifts and donations that meet the criteria outlined in this policy. All gifts are subject to review and may be accepted, declined, or disposed of at the library’s discretion.
Consortial Agreements: The library will participate in consortial agreements and interlibrary loan programs to expand access to resources beyond its physical collection.
Open Access: The library will support and promote open access resources as a means of providing equitable access to information.
Collection Maintenance
Weeding and Deaccessioning (print materials): The library will regularly review and evaluate the collection to identify materials that are outdated, no longer relevant, or in poor condition. These materials may be withdrawn to ensure the collection remains current and useful.
Evaluation and discontinuation (electronic materials): The library continues its previously established practice of evaluating all database subscriptions annually. Subscriptions are contextually compared to curricular changes, cost per use, FTE, and redundancies. The following table outlines the library’s three-tier system for database evaluations:
Green – High Use – CPU less than $5: Renew
Yellow – Moderate Use – CPU between $6 – 10: Renew. Consult with department chairs on how to increase use or eliminate database. 2-year period to shift usage numbers.
Red – Low Use – CPU higher than $10: Discuss discontinuation. Consult with departments on how to increase use or eliminate the database. 1-year period to shift usage numbers.
Preservation: The library will take appropriate measures to preserve materials that are of enduring value, including digitization, binding, and environmental controls.
Replacement: Lost or damaged materials will be considered for replacement based on their importance to the collection, ongoing demand, and availability.
Intellectual Freedom
The library is committed to upholding the principles of intellectual freedom and will acquire materials that reflect a wide range of viewpoints. The selection of materials will not be influenced by individuals or groups seeking to restrict access to information.