Subject Collection Development Guidelines

Computer Science Collection Development Guidelines

JMU Libraries supports James Madison University's Department of Computer Science with a collection that facilitates instruction and research. The Computer Science collection is developed in accordance with the department’s evolving undergraduate and graduate programs.  The department’s goal is as follows:

The Computer Science department strives to be an intellectual community that continually explores the broad field of computing, applies this knowledge to solve problems in a variety of domains, and engages with the profession and society at large.
http://www.cs.jmu.edu/welcome.html

Currently, departmental emphases include knowledge-based systems, the Internet, multimedia, geographic image processing, expert systems, computer graphics, client server architectures, information security, and digital forensics. The quickly changing nature of computer science means the needs of students and faculty in this area may also change. 

Acquisitions and collection management of Computer Science materials also supports the library-wide mission of fostering environments that allow users to connect with ideas and information.

Collection Areas

Note: Because of the changing nature of technologies, this collection is tracked at a more granular level than described below.  Please contact the Computer Science Librarian for a more granular list of call number ranges of interest.

Summary:

Recent CD Activity, FY2008 - FY2010, more than 2 items acquired

Guidelines

Materials are considered for their subject, curriculum relevance, authoritativeness, currency, and price. User requests and appropriateness for the entire collection are also key criteria for consideration.

• Primary emphasis is on current materials, however, some older materials are still getting significant use, even in areas that also need current materials, such as specific programming languages.  
• Primary formats are print and electronic. There is some deliberate overlap between print and electronic collections, because:

 

• The Safari Tech Books ebook collection is a “rolling” collection, so if a title is considered of long-term use, its print version may be acquired
• For manuals such as programming languages, computer scientists sometimes prefer a print copy to quickly get to know a new language (e.g. provide an overview of available methods)
• The print collections still circulate
• Electronic format is preferred for reference materials, journals, and indexes & abstracts
• Other formats are purchased selectively to support the Computer Science curriculum.
• English-language materials are purchased almost exclusively.

Responsibilities

The responsibility of acquiring and managing Computer Science collections primarily resides with the Computer Science liaison librarian, although the Computer Science department liaison has been and is expected to continue to be an active collaborator in selectin titles. Collection management activities are monitored and administered by JMU Libraries' Collection Development Committee, with expenditures authorized by the Dean of Libraries.

Updated April 25, 2012 by Jody Fagan

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