Criteria for Selection of Print Materials
Content relevant to curriculum
Completeness and scope of subject coverage
Authoritativeness of author and publisher
Quality of scholarship
Physical quality--illustrations, paper (acid-free preferred), binding, format, typography
Appropriate format, level, language, geographic coverage, and chronological period Policies for Selection of Specific Categories of Print Materials
Dissertations and theses are not purchased for the collection, but those that are submitted to the Libraries are bound and added to the collection. Electronic versions are preferred.
Duplicates are normally only purchased when needed at more than one location, or when warranted for heavy usage.
Library liaisons work with faculty to determine the most appropriate scholarly edition of a work when various editions are available. In some cases it is desirable to collect multiple editions, which differs from duplication.
Popular fiction titles are selected as part of a leasing program on a rotating basis.
Pepperdine Libraries are pleased to accept donations of materials that will enrich existing collections. Gifts are gratefully and willingly accepted as long as no restriction is placed upon their use. Acceptance of gifts will be determined by collection development library staff on the basis of whether the materials fit within the scope of the Libraries' selection policies. Retention or disposition of all gift materials will be determined by the collection development library staff. The library has the right to discard any items in poor physical condition (e.g. brittle paper, water or mildew damage, torn and/or missing pages). The value of donated materials will not be appraised for income tax purposes; however, the libraries will provide a written acknowledgement. Donors are requested to contact the Libraries at jeremy.whitt@pepperdine.edu to discuss potential gifts before sending them.
Government Documents - Federal Depository Library
Payson Library is a Federal Depository library and operates in accordance with the policies of the Federal Depository Library Program. See also Government Documents Collection Policies and Microfilm.
Children's books are selected for use by students in elementary education and other careers working with children. Both fiction and nonfiction books are selected.
Out-of-print Materials
Selecting materials that are old, used, or out-of-print is done to fill gaps of materials that are missing, damaged, or were not previously purchased. Retrospective selection is also done to support new academic programs.
Books that do not fit on standard library shelving because of their taller size are put in the Oversize Collection. These books cover all subject areas and are selected using the same criteria used in selecting the regular-sized collection.
Paperback editions are acquired when hardcover editions are not available or when hardcover editions are prohibitively expensive. Considerations include expected use and long-term value of each title.
The reference collection contains materials that support the research needs of students and faculty. This collection normally does not circulate. It contains materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, directories, indexes, bibliographies, statistical compilations, and handbooks.
Various types of scores are collected including condensed, monument, vocal, orchestral, and solo instrumental scores.
Serial publications are acquired to support the needs of students and faculty and are purchased primarily through standing order plans. See also Periodicals.
Rare and valuable materials are housed in the Library's Special Collections. Please see the Special Collections and University Archives Collection Development Policy for more details.
Textbooks are normally not purchased. Exceptions may occur if a textbook is considered a classic work or is the best source of information on a particular topic.
The University Archives contain Pepperdine University's historic documents. Please see the Special Collections and University Archives Collection Development Policy for more details.
Levels of Collection Development by Subject Classification
Each subject area is assigned to a library liaison subject specialist. Each subject area is defined as to the extent it is collected (ranging between basic and comprehensive), along with a description of the program served and the scope of each collection. Collection scope includes the formats, publication dates, chronological focus, languages, and geographical emphasis of materials collected in each subject area.
LC Class
LC Subclass
Collecting Level
Various Various African American Studies Instructional Current (Extensively); Earlier centuries (Selectively).
N N-NE, NK, NX Art Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
T TR Photography Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
Q QH-QL, QP-QR Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
S S-SK Agriculture Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
Business-Seaver
H HB-HJ Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).
T TS Technology (Manufactures) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).
Q QD Chemistry Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
P P, PN Communication Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).
Q QA Computer Science Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
Economics-Seaver
L L-LT Education Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Occasionally to fill need).
P PM-PZ Language and Literature Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).
P PN Language and Literature (Show Business, Motion Pictures) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
T TR Technology (Cinematography) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
C C-CT Auxiliary Sciences of History Instructional Current primary sources (Extensively); Secondary earlier published sources (Selectively & Faculty Request).
D D-DX World History Instructional Current primary sources (Extensively); Secondary earlier published sources (Selectively & Faculty Request).
E E History of the Americas (United States) Instructional Current primary sources (Extensively); Secondary earlier published sources (Selectively & Faculty Request).
F F History of the Americas Instructional Current primary sources (Extensively); Secondary earlier published sources (Selectively & Faculty Request).
G GN Anthropology Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
J JL-JQ; JV-JZ Political Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
Q QA Mathematics Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
G GR Folklore Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).
P PA-PL Language and Literature Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).
P PT Language and Literature Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).
M M-MT Music Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
Q QM-QP Science (Human Anatomy, Physiology) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
R R-RC, RE-RZ Medicine Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
B B-BD; BH-BJ Philosophy Instructional Current (Extensively); 19th century and earlier (Selectively).
Q QB-QC Physics Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
H HX Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).
J J-JF Political Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).
J JK Political Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).
J JS Political Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).
B BF Psychology Instructional - Comprehensive Current publications (Extensively); 19th Century and Earlier materials (Selectively).
R RJ Medicine (Child Psychiatry) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 19th Century and Earlier materials (Selectively).
B BL-BX Religion Basic - Instructional Current (Extensively); 19th century and earlier (Selectively).
H H-HA Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
H HM-HV Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
G GV Recreation Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
Q QM-QP Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
R RC-RD Medicine Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
P PN Theatre Basic, Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).
H HQ Women's Studies Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).
Selection and Evaluation Tools
Sources for selecting library materials include standard library reviewing sources, faculty expertise, and recommended core lists such as the Resources for College Libraries. Publisher catalogs and vendor recommended lists are also used. Evaluation tools include OCLC Collection Analysis, the Bowker Book Analysis System, and usage reports.