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Books

Selection Policies

  Print Materials

Criteria for Selection of Print Materials

  1. Content relevant to curriculum
  2. Completeness and scope of subject coverage
  3. Authoritativeness of author and publisher
  4. Quality of scholarship
  5. Currency
  6. Physical quality--illustrations, paper (acid-free preferred), binding, format, typography
  7. Appropriate format, level, language, geographic coverage, and chronological period Policies for Selection of Specific Categories of Print Materials

  Dissertations and Theses

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

Duplicates are normally only purchased when needed at more than one location, or when warranted for heavy usage.

  Editions

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.

  Fiction

Popular fiction titles are selected as part of a leasing program on a rotating basis.

  Gifts

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 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.

  Juvenile Collection

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.

  Oversize Collection

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.

  Paperbacks

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.

  Plueger Reading Room Christian Spiritual Classics Collection

Pepperdine Libraries maintains a collection of Christian spiritual classics housed in the Plueger Reading Room in Payson Library. This collection includes works that have an enduring impact on how Christians understand and experience God’s presence and work. They represent expressions of spirituality important to the Christian Tradition, and diverse global and historical streams of Christianity. The works range from devotional to scholarly and may include titles authored by members of the Pepperdine community and university guests.

  Reference Collection

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.

  Scores

Various types of scores are collected including condensed, monument, vocal, orchestral, and solo instrumental scores.

  Serials

Serial publications are acquired to support the needs of students and faculty and are purchased primarily through standing order plans. See also Periodicals.

  Special Collections

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

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.

  University Archives

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.

  African American Studies

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
Various Various African American Studies Instructional Current (Extensively); Earlier centuries (Selectively).

  Art

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Biological Science

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
H HB-HJ Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).
T TS Technology (Manufactures) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).

  Chemistry

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
Q QD Chemistry Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).

  Communication

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
P P, PN Communication Instructional Current publications (Extensively); All other periods (Selectively).

  Computer Science

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
Q QA Computer Science Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).

  Economics-Seaver

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
H HB-HJ Social Sciences Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).
T TS Technology (Manufactures) Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Older materials (Selectively).

  Education

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
L L-LT Education Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Occasionally to fill need).

  English

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
P PM-PZ Language and Literature Instructional Current publications (Extensively); 20th and earlier centuries (Selectively).

  Film Studies

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  History

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  International Studies

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
G GN Anthropology Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).
J JL-JQ; JV-JZ Political Science Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).

  Mathematics

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
Q QA Mathematics Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).

  Modern Languages

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Music

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
M M-MT Music Instructional Current publications (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).

  Nutritional Science

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Philosophy

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
B B-BD; BH-BJ Philosophy Instructional Current (Extensively); 19th century and earlier (Selectively).

  Physical Education

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Physics

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
Q QB-QC Physics Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier materials (Selectively).

  Political Science

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Psychology

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Religion

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
B BL-BX Religion Basic - Instructional Current (Extensively); 19th century and earlier (Selectively).

  Screenwriting

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Sociology

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Sports Medicine

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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).

  Theatre

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
P PN Theatre Basic, Instructional Current materials (Extensively); Earlier century materials (Selectively).

  Women's Studies

LC Class LC Subclass Subject Collecting Level Publication Dates
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.