The collection development policy for W. Frank Steely Library guides library faculty and staff in meeting collection goals aligned with the library’s mission. It informs the university community of the principles guiding material selection and provides direction for allocating collection funds. The policy also affirms the library’s commitment to supporting current teaching at the university and responding to emerging models of research and scholarship.
This policy applies to Steely Library's general collection. Separate policies address collecting practices for Special Collections and University Archives and the NKU Digital Repository.
Collection development is the process of building useful, balanced collections over time within a defined budget, based on the evolving information needs of the library’s users. It includes selection criteria, resource sharing, item replacement, and routine deselection. Through collection development, Steely Library will facilitate seamless access to robust and distinctive collections that support and enrich teaching, learning, and research. In addition to acquiring print and electronic collections, the library partners with other institutions to provide efficient access to resources not held locally. The library collects materials that support the current curricular and research needs of Northern Kentucky University’s undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as those of its students and faculty. It fosters discovery and dissemination of knowledge, and upholds the freedom of inquiry through research, teaching, and learning.
Steely Library primarily serves the information needs of Northern Kentucky University students, faculty, and staff. Select services and materials are also available to alumni, visiting researchers, and members of the surrounding community, in accordance with established library policies. Details about borrowing privileges and access to services are outlined in the Circulation Policy’s User Categories and Library Spaces & Technologies.
The library develops its collection through a combination of selection practices, including approval plans, individual title selection, and requests from the NKU community. Library faculty and staff hold full responsibility for developing and maintaining the collection, drawing upon their knowledge of the existing holdings, expertise with selection tools, and understanding of users’ information and resource needs. While selection is ultimately the responsibility of the library, this process is collaborative and may involve consultation with faculty and academic departments.
Faculty are encouraged to participate in collection development. Their subject expertise and familiarity with the curriculum and research needs make their input especially valuable. The Head of Collections and Discovery Services serves as the primary contact for questions, concerns, or suggestions related to the collection.
The Collections and Discovery Services Department determines the most appropriate acquisition method for each resource, based on factors such as availability, cost, and user demand. Acquisition methods include, but are not limited to:
The library’s collection is developed to support and enhance the instructional and research activities and goals of Northern Kentucky University. Selection decisions are guided by professional judgment and informed by a range of evaluative criteria applied across all formats. Materials are assessed for their long-term value and relevance to the university community. The following criteria are used to select resources, regardless of format:
The library focuses on adding newly published materials that are authoritative and/or ground-breaking in their fields. Retrospective selections may also be made to fill gaps or respond to requests, in accordance with selection guidelines.
Most resources selected are in English, except for basic, representative, and instructional materials in languages currently taught at Northern Kentucky University.
The library generally does not purchase duplicate copies of materials. However, duplication may be considered in cases of demonstrated high demand or to support initiatives like the Textbook Affordability Program.
Steely Library acquires materials in a variety of physical and digital formats to support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the NKU community. These formats include, but are not limited to, books, serials, databases, audiovisual media, and streaming media. Electronic formats, such as eBooks, eJournals, and streaming media, are prioritized when feasible, especially those that offer DRM-free, unlimited user access. These formats are preferred for their broad accessibility and ability to support multiple simultaneous users. Print materials may be selected when they are specifically requested, pedagogically appropriate, or when electronic versions are unavailable or cost prohibitive. New and emerging formats are evaluated using the same selection criteria applied to all resources and may be added as they become relevant to academic needs.
Format guidance reflects current collection practices and priorities and may evolve as academic needs and technologies change. The following sections describe current approaches to acquiring and maintaining specific types of materials.
Electronic resources, including databases, eBooks, eJournals, and streaming media, are selected using the same criteria as other library materials, with additional considerations for access, licensing, and usability. Ongoing subscriptions are reviewed annually, with particular attention paid to underperforming resources (those showing consistent semester-over-semester drops in usage) and those with high cost per use. These resources are evaluated carefully, and relevant departments and schools are consulted as part of the decision-making process.
Books are acquired in both print and electronic formats. Electronic books may be purchased individually, acquired as part of a package, or subscribed to as a package. When available and cost effective, the library prefers eBooks licensed for multiple-user access to support simultaneous use.
Serials, including scholarly journals, professional periodicals, and newspapers, are acquired in print and electronic formats. Electronic format is preferred when available and affordable. Access is provided through subscriptions to aggregator databases and individually selected titles. A small browsing collection of popular print magazines and newspapers is maintained for in-house use.
Audio and video materials are acquired in both physical and streaming formats. Streaming is preferred for its accessibility and ability to support remote and simultaneous use and may be acquired through annual subscriptions to streaming media databases, patron-driven acquisition models, or individual licenses for selected titles. While the library may retain legacy items in older formats, it does not purchase media in superseded formats (e.g., VHS).
Music scores are acquired in both print and electronic formats to support the instructional and performance needs of NKU’s music programs.
The library prioritizes the use of low or no-cost course materials, including the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and participation in the Course Reserves Program, over the purchase of commercial textbooks. Exceptions to this policy may be made through the Textbook Affordability Program or for K–12 textbooks acquired to support the Teacher Resource Collection.
The library provides access to selected open access materials, applying the same selection criteria used for purchased or licensed electronic resources. These materials are discoverable through the library’s online catalog, database list, and research guides.
Steely Library maintains several specialized collections to support targeted academic, instructional, and community needs.
The library maintains a Teacher Resource Collection to support NKU’s teacher education programs. It includes children’s and young adult literature, instructional materials such as kits, games, and manipulatives, and select K–12 textbooks aligned with current educational standards.
The library makes every effort to acquire one copy of original monographs authored, edited, or contributed to by current NKU faculty and staff during their time at the university. Faculty are also encouraged to submit shorter scholarly works, such as journal articles, conference papers, and presentations, for inclusion in the NKU Digital Repository.
As a selective depository for the U.S. Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), Steely Library provides public access to government documents in compliance with FDLP Legal Requirements and Program Regulations. Selection is based on the instructional and research needs of the NKU community, as well as the general information needs of the surrounding region. While the collection includes a legacy print archive, most new materials are acquired in electronic format.
A collection of fiction and nonfiction titles is maintained to support leisure reading, as funding allows. Materials are regularly reviewed, and older titles may be transferred to the general circulating collection to maintain a current and engaging selection.
The Wellness Collection supports the library’s Wellness Space and includes curated materials on health, well-being, and personal development. Topics include stress management, mindfulness, nutrition, mental health, and work-life balance. Materials are selected to promote holistic wellness for the NKU community.
The library typically does not accept in-kind donations for the general circulating collection. However, materials that align with the mission and collecting priorities of Special Collections and University Archives may be considered.
Missing, lost, or damaged materials are not automatically replaced. Replacement decisions are made using the same criteria applied to new acquisitions, along with additional considerations such as usage history, availability, and continued curricular need. When appropriate, a comparable title or newer edition may be selected in place of the original.
Materials that are damaged but show evidence of continued use and relevance to teaching or research will be considered for repair or preservation. If repair is not feasible, replacement may be pursued based on the established criteria.
Deselection is an essential and strategic aspect of collection development. It ensures that the collection remains current, relevant, and aligned with the teaching, learning, and research priorities of Northern Kentucky University. Guided by national best practices, librarians evaluate materials for withdrawal using a combination of usage data, professional judgment, and consultation with faculty.
Items may be considered for deselection if they are outdated, superseded by newer editions, inaccurate, underused, in poor physical condition, or no longer aligned with the curriculum or institutional mission. Through this ongoing process, the library maintains a purposeful and responsive collection that meets the evolving needs of its academic community.
The library upholds the principles of intellectual freedom as outlined in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement. We are committed to providing access to materials that support academic inquiry and reflect a range of ideas and perspectives. NKU students, faculty, and staff who have questions about the collection are encouraged to contact the Head of Collections and Discovery Services.
The Head of Collections and Discovery Services will review and update the collection development policy every five years to reflect changes in institutional priorities or library practices.
