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Collection Development
The Library acquires, develops and manages collections on behalf of the university in support of the curricular and research needs of students and employees.
An effective library collection changes with the needs of learners, teachers, and researchers. We are committed to ongoing collection analysis and assessment in a way that best supports Mount Royal scholars while enacting strategic adjustments based on fluctuating currency exchange rates, inflationary pricing, and changes to the University’s budget. This is the place to review updates and pertinent insight into decisions about resources removed from Library Collections.
New Additions
The goal of an active collection is to bring in new titles and resources as items become available and also as university research and program needs change. This is a small selection of the more notable items that have been added recently.
New Databases
Visible Body - Anatomy & Physiology
A visually stunning, step-by-step introduction to each human body system.
Visible Body - Human Anatomy Atlas 2021
A comprehensive 3D atlas of the human body.
Witchcraft in Europe and America
A comprehensive collection that offers a broad range of documents, dated between 1500 and 1930. Included are many rare and fragile manuscripts containing eyewitness accounts and court records of the trials of witches.
Allied Propaganda in World War II and the British Political Warfare Executive
This collection presents the complete files of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE) kept at the U.K. National Archives, along with the secret minutes of the special 1944 War Cabinet Committee "Breaking the German Will to Resist."
New Books and E-Resources
Cancellations
| Name | Final Day of Access | Reasons for Cancellation | Alternate Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthrosource | December 31, 2021 | It was determined that there was significant overlap with other Library sources we offer. | |
| Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | May 31, 2021 | This resource has seen low use relative to its cost. |
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| Jove Essential Behavioral Science | February 1, 2021 | The use rate has declined for this resource in recent years. | |
| Clarivate Web of Science | December 31, 2020 | It was determined that there is a significant overlap with another prominent source we offer. | |
| Library Information Science and Technology | December 31, 2020 | The target audience for this resource doesn’t clearly align with MRU programs and many of the full-text titles are available through other sources. | |
| Mental Measurements Yearbook | December 31, 2020 | This resource is rarely utilized and its value to Mount Royal researchers is unapparent. | |
| Lyell Collection | December 31, 2020 | The cost of this resource exceeds the benefit it provides to users. | |
| International Political Science Abstracts | December 31, 2020 | After reviewing what this resource provides and its interface, it was determined to be not as useful to MRU scholars and this is reflected in the low usage rate. | |
| Wildlife and Ecology Studies Worldwide | December 31, 2020 | A significant amount of this content can be found through other resources and usage has decreased recently, making the cost per use higher than average. | |
| Newspaper Source Plus | December 31, 2020 | Similar content can be found through other resources and usage has decreased recently, making the cost per use higher than average. | |
| BioOne | December 31, 2020 | Careful analysis determined that a portion of this content can be found elsewhere and the usage has been somewhat inconsistent in recent years. | |
| Encyclopedia of Life Sciences | December 31, 2020 | The information available through this resource is no longer the best fit to meet the needs of learners or can be found through other options. In comparison to similar platforms, its interface was found to be difficult to navigate. | |
| Ageline | November 30, 2020 | The use rate has declined for this resource in recent years and in considering this, the cost per use amount is now higher than average. | |
| September 30, 2020 |
Usage for this resource has decreased in recent years and, as an index only, it is not providing access to full-text content. |
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| Encyclopedia Britannica | September 30, 2020 |
This content is available through other resources and the electronic version is no longer of significant value to its targeted discipline. |
The Collection Process
Resources are routinely reviewed to determine what material should be cancelled and where there may be a gap to fill with a new resource. Each resource is thoroughly assessed with the help of a 5 step process to determine if it should stay or go or if a new resource should be added.
Analysis of the Resource
Defining the complete scope of the journal or database to determine the subject(s) it covers and size.
Uniqueness of Coverage
A deep dive to understand which areas utilize or could utilize the resource and the need it is meeting (or could meet), as well as investigation into whether a different option fulfils the same role.
Degree of Use
This factor is mainly of consideration for cancellations. If a resource is rarely used, we want to know why and decide if there is no longer a need to continue its subscription.
Value to Students and Faculty
Each subscription must meet the academic needs of MRU scholars. For existing subscriptions, if this is no longer the case, it's time to cut ties.
Function and Features
The process to find important information within a resource should be as smooth as possible. Design, usability, and interface are ranked to determine the level of compatibility with the resource.
Challenged Library Materials Guidelines
The primary purpose of the Mount Royal Library collection is to anticipate and support the curricular and research needs of students, staff, and faculty at the institution. Librarians select materials that represent a broad range of ideas, opinions, perspectives, and subjects. The Library’s collection may include items that contain controversial, offensive, outdated, or discredited ideas and attitudes that are nevertheless appropriate for inclusion in a university library collection for teaching or research purposes.
Questions, challenges or complaints relating to specific items in the collection should be directed to the Associate Dean, Collections and Metadata. Challenges to library material are carefully considered in light of the Library's goal to uphold the principles of intellectual and academic freedom, while also recognizing the diverse lived experiences, identities and backgrounds of Library users. The Associate Dean, Collections and Metadata works with the relevant subject Librarian(s) and others as appropriate to review challenges to library materials.
The Library reserves the right to make all decisions regarding collections, and will do so while carefully considering collections guidelines and practices. Some of the actions we may consider in response to questions or complaints include retention, re-cataloguing, re-classification, or withdrawal of items from the Library’s collection. We will notify the person who initiates the question of any decisions.
Contact:
Francine May
Associate Dean, Collections and Metadata
fmay@mtroyal.ca
(403) 440-6128
News
- The Complicated Story Behind E-BooksThe transition to alternative delivery has meant more students, teachers, and researchers need access to electronic resources, which the Library does its best to acquire, but it’s not always a simple transaction, and there isn’t always a happy ending.