Regulations

IR 6211 Curriculum Development

Section: 6000 Instruction
Sub Section: 6200 Curriculum Services
Title: IR 6211 Curriculum Development
Primary Policy: IP 6210 Curriculum Development
Associated Policies: IP 6710 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
Associated Regulations: IR 6720 Faculty Workload
References:
Addendums: A: College Curriculum Process; B: Naming and Numbering Format; C: Master Course Syllabus Template
Supersedes: NA
Responsible Administrator: Chief Academic Officer
Initial Approval: 08-23-2017	Last Revision:

Three Rivers College faculty, based on their respective disciplines, scholarship and expertise in curricular areas have collective responsibility for the curriculum and are responsible for initiating curriculum proposals. The College President and administration are responsible for acting on curriculum proposals, including making recommendations to the Board of Trustees, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and/or the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as applicable. Curriculum decisions are consistent with major curricular goals and the strategic plan of the College.

The purpose of this Curriculum Development Regulation and operational processes are to provide consistent information related to the development, revision, and discontinuation of the Three Rivers College curricula. The College Curriculum Development process shall be followed by faculty, department chairs, and other academic administrators who are involved in the development and approval of new and revised curricula or the discontinuation of courses and/or programs. The College Curriculum reflects the primary learning outcomes for programs of study and courses and demonstrates that learning outcomes have been clearly defined for each course and/or program of study as they relate to the College mission and purposes.

The curriculum development process includes careful planning from academic program faculty, coordination with other department faculty who might be impacted, consideration of transferability when applicable, input from industry for career track programs and courses, and input from external stakeholders when appropriate, to develop and maintain a curriculum that meets the needs of the students. In addition, faculty work to align the program curricula to the intended academic outcomes and the college mission. Faculty utilize input from advisory committees, student learning outcomes assessment data, environmental scans and other pertinent information relevant to their programs. Any curricular changes or program proposals must include a written justification that is be submitted for approval through the Office of the Chief Academic Officer to be included in the curriculum development process.

A Faculty member wanting to change a course or program must use programmatic data and gather strong evidence to write a justification that fully supports the need for the change prior to meeting with their Department Chair. Faculty must follow and allow adequate time for the curriculum development process as outlined herein. For curricular changes that may impact or include assessment, such as revised course or program rubrics, changes to student learning outcomes, and/or program outcomes mapping should first contact the College Assessment Coordinator for guidance and assistance. An assessment plan must be included as evidence along with the written proposal that is submitted for consideration.

If the proposed curriculum change is considered a “substantive change” as defined by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a prospectus may be required. The prospectus is prepared and submitted to HLC by the Accreditation Liaison Officer for the College through the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. Curricular changes requiring HLC approval should be completed a minimum of six months prior to the proposed program being offered by the college to allow time for approval. No curricular changes shall be implemented until all approvals are gained.

Program creation, deletion, and other programmatic changes resulting in more than 50% of the program being revised require additional forms to be submitted to the Missouri Department of Higher Education for approval. This should be completed the fall semester prior to the new program being offered to allow time for any regional, state and/or college approvals as coordinated through the Office of the Chief Academic Officer.

To begin the curriculum development process, College faculty must create a program proposal development timetable that identifies the major steps in the process as well as deadlines for their completion. Refer to Addendum(s) A, B and C for information on the steps in the curriculum development process, naming and numbering format and the master syllabus template.

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

08-23-2017:

Initial approval of regulation IR 6211 Curriculum Development.

IR 6221 Library Operations

Section: 6000 Instruction
Sub Section: 6200 Curriculum Services and Support
Title: IR 6221 Library Operations
Primary Policy: IP 6220 Library Services
Associated Policies: IP 6710 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities; SP 2610 Student Code of Conduct
Associated Regulations: IR 6750 Intellectual Property; IR 6222 Library Circulation Privileges; IR 6223 Library Collection Development; ITR 8100 Acceptable Use; IR 6410 Electronic Devices in the Learning Environment
References: American Library Association (ALA) “Professional Ethics,” “Freedom to Read Statement,” "Freedom to View Statement," and the "Library Bill of Rights" located on ALA website; The American Library Association Policy Manual, Section B.8.5 (pp. 38-40), “Confidentiality of Library Records,”; Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, Title 11:182.815 and 817; The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Supersedes: Library Handbook
Responsible Administrator: Chief Academic Officer
Initial Approval: 03-20-2024	Last Revision:

Library Operations

In an effort to provide appropriate, high quality library services and materials in support of the learning environment, library operations, processes, and procedures have been instituted. This regulation describes specific segments of the Three Rivers College Rutland Library operations. For additional information, see Library staff.

General Information

Confidentiality of Library Records

All records identifying the names, Social Security numbers, or other identification numbers of library patrons are confidential in nature and will not be revealed to anyone other than the patron without either the express written permission of the patron in question, or when the library must adhere to proper legal procedures requesting access to such information.
The libraries protect each library patron's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received, and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted.

Orientation

Rutland Library and the Rutland Library - Sikeston offer orientation tours to acquaint patrons with the variety of resources available to them. Orientation tours are available for all library patrons by request. Individuals wishing to participate in an orientation tour should contact library staff to schedule a date and time. Non-scheduled walk-in tours may be provided by library staff as requested and as time permits. Online orientations are also available by request.

Finals Week

Library staff understand the need that students have during finals week for a comfortable, quiet atmosphere in which to study. Toward that end, we make every effort to reduce noise and to keep distractions to a minimum.

Study Rooms

The library’s study rooms are for the use of Three Rivers College students, as well as students of other institutions with TRC consortial arrangements. Study room use is subject to the following:

Study rooms may be used by students of Three Rivers College, or institutions specified above, in connection with their classwork or to study for a specialized test.
Conduct that restricts or inhibits others from pursuing academic research or that violates College policies or state/federal law is not permitted.
Abuse of the study rooms, failure to comply with reservation requirements, or violations of library policies may result in suspension of study room privileges.
Study rooms reservations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis unless a reservation already exists.
Students may reserve a room by calling the library at 573-840-9654 or by inquiring at the Circulation Desk.
Rooms may be reserved no more than 2 days in advance.
Reservations are available from 30 minutes up to 3 hours in a single day. The reservation time period applies to the group, not to each individual within the group.
Students must confirm their reservation by email within 24 hours.
The student who booked the study room must present a valid photo ID when he or she arrives to use the room.
The student who booked the study room must be present for a group to use the room.
Study room reservations are not transferable.
If a room reservation is not claimed within 15 minutes of the requested time, that reservation will be cancelled.
Whiteboard markers, for use in the rooms, are available upon request at the Circulation Desk.
Use of both TVs and HDMI cables are available upon request; volume should be kept low to prevent disturbing other students who are studying.
Whiteboards that are used by a group should be cleaned after each reservation, leaving a clean board for the next group.

The Library at Three Rivers College – Sikeston Study Room

Study rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis
Reservations are not required except in during peak usage time and determined at the discretion of library staff

Food and Drink

Food and drink are allowed in all areas of the Rutland Library.
Patrons are expected to clean up after themselves by placing garbage in receptacles provided for that purpose.
Spills should be cleaned up and reported immediately.
Food and drink should not be left unattended; food and drink left will be discarded.
Food and drink privileges may be suspended in cases of health concerns.

Electronic Device Usage

Cell phone usage is permitted in all areas of Rutland Library and the Rutland Library - Sikeston.
Patrons with cell phones are requested to place their phones on silent or vibrate and to keep the volume of any calls to respectable levels. Calls placed on speaker phone are not allowed.
Patrons with electronic devices must remember that other students are either studying, taking tests, or concentrating on their research efforts.
Patrons using electronic devices to play music or watch videos (cell phones, MP3 players, CD players, portable DVD players, laptops, etc.) must use headphones.
Cell phones or electronic devices that restrict or inhibit others from pursuing academic research or that violate College policies or state/federal law are not permitted.

Computer Lab

Use is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Conduct that restricts or inhibits others from pursuing academic research or that violates College policies or state/federal law is not permitted.
Patrons may not change any computer or laptop settings, including installing software or plug-ins.
Headphones must be used when listening to audio.
Neither the Library nor the College will assume financial responsibility for unauthorized Internet-related expenditures.
Neither the library nor the College is responsible for any lost or corrupted files.
When Three Rivers College personnel violate these rules, they will be reported to the appropriate College office for possible disciplinary action.
Reference College Regulation ITR 8100 Acceptable Use for more information.

Community members may use designated public access computers at Rutland Library subject to the following:

Computer use is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Patrons must be 18 years of age or older to use the computers unaccompanied.
Patrons under the age of 18 must have their parent or legal guardian sit next to them while they use a computer.
Patrons must present a valid driver’s license, state-issued ID card, military ID card or student ID card.
Conduct that restricts or inhibits others from pursuing academic research or that violates College policies or state/federal law is not permitted.
Patrons may not change any computer settings, including installing software or plug-ins.
Headphones must be used when listening to audio.
Neither the Library nor the College will assume financial responsibility for unauthorized Internet-related expenditures.
Reference College Regulation ITR 8100 Acceptable Use for more information.

Printing/Copying

Rutland Library and the Rutland Library - Sikeston have self-service printers with black-and-white print capability that are available to all patrons of the library. These printers allow for copies to be made from the library’s computers, or from originals in the possession of the library patron.
The cost to print is 10 cents per page.
Printing costs are not refundable or transferable.
All federal copyright laws are in effect when making copies. Contact the Circulation Desk if you have questions.

Copyright

As a college devoted to providing the highest level of instruction by its faculty and education for its students, Three Rivers College respects the rights of content creators and facilitates compliance with the provisions of the United States Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sect. 101 et. seq). Three Rivers College recognizes the Copyright Act of 1976, including the Fair Use doctrine (Section 107) and subsequent amendments including the TEACH Act, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, Guidelines for Off-the-Air Recording of Broadcast Programming for Education Purposes, and Circular 21: Reproduction of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians.

Specifically, the Three Rivers College Rutland Library:

Informs and educates students, faculty, and staff about their rights and privileges in using copyright-restricted material, including the limited exclusive rights of copyright holders;
Provides resources and tools for members of the Three Rivers College community to facilitate the adoption of copyright materials into their classes;
Facilitates the use of materials currently licensed by Three Rivers College;
Identifies individuals at the college who can advise faculty and staff regarding application of copyright law.

The use of copyrighted material is allowable in each of the following instances:

Fair Use: Copyrighted materials may be copied or otherwise used without the copyright owner's permission where such use meets the four-part test for fair use. This test considers:

the purpose and character of the use;
the nature of the copyrighted work;
the amount, substantiality, and portion used;
the effect of the use on the potential market. The test is fact-specific. If you have questions, please consult your Department Chairperson.

The TEACH Act Circumstances (distance education): All portions of a non-dramatic work may be transmitted as long as the display is an integral part of the class and teaching content, the transmission is solely for students, the performance is live or asynchronous, and technological measures are implemented that prevent retention of the work in accessible form and prevent further dissemination of the work.
Face-to-face teaching in a classroom or similar place: Generally, performance or display of a lawfully made copy of a non-dramatic performance in the classroom or similar place is permissible under 17 U.S.C. § 110.
Library records: The Rutland Library has the authority to make certain copyrighted material available to faculty, staff, and students under 17 U.S.C. § 108. Faculty should, whenever possible, provide a hyperlink to library materials as part of any web-based instructional activity.
With permission of the owner: In instances where faculty, staff, or students cannot legally use copyrighted material, they should seek permission of the owner.

Reference Services

The Three Rivers College libraries maintain a reference service which:

Provides answers to specific questions.
Provides guidance in locating material for patrons.
Assists patrons with basic research methodology and/or a research strategy.

Reserve Materials

Rutland Library and the Rutland Library - Sikeston provide places to house materials that the faculty have chosen for use by students only in their classes. These areas are accessible by library staff but protected from direct contact by library patrons. Reserve materials must be requested from a library staff member; the staff member then retrieves the material and checks out the item or items to the waiting patron. The following guidelines apply to the use of these materials:

Reserve materials may be used in-house for a period of 2 hours. They must then be returned to the Circulation Desk.
Some reserve materials may also be checked out for 3 days, 1 week, and 2 weeks. These items may leave the library.
Faculty wishing to place materials on reserve are asked to choose which of the four options listed above apply to the materials they wish to place on reserve. The library staff will honor the faculty’s choice.

Library Instruction Sessions

On-campus faculty may request instructional sessions for their classes by contacting the Circulation Desk. Instructors should request sessions as far in advance as possible, but not less than three school days before the requested session date. The instructor and library staff member will discuss any specific needs or resources the instructor wishes to have highlighted prior to the scheduled class.

Faculty at external locations may request an instruction session by contacting the library. Those types of sessions will highlight resources and services that can be accessed by students, faculty, and staff from remote sites. A personal visit from a library staff member can be scheduled at the convenience of both the instructor and the staff member.

Self-paced, online tutorials are also available covering a range of library-related topics including basic library instruction and information literacy.

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

03-20-2024:

Initial approval of regulation.

IR 6222 Library Circulation Privileges

Section: 6000 Instruction
Sub Section: 6200 Curriculum Services and Support
Title: IR 6222 Library Circulation Privileges
Primary Policy: IP 6220 Library Services
Associated Policies: SP 2610 Student Code of Conduct; IP 6710 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities; ITP 8100 Acceptable Use; GAP 1101 Debts to the College
Associated Regulations: IR 6221 Library Operations; IR 6223 Library Collection Development
References: American Library Association (ALA) “Professional Ethics,” “Freedom to Read Statement,” "Freedom to View Statement," and the "Library Bill of Rights" located on ALA website
Supersedes: Library Handbook
Responsible Administrator: Chief Academic Officer
Initial Approval: 03-20-2024	Last Revision:

Circulation Privileges

Three Rivers College Current Students, Faculty, Staff, and Trustee Borrowing

All Three Rivers College students, faculty, and staff can borrow materials.
Three Rivers College students, faculty, and staff automatically have library accounts while they are enrolled in classes or have active employment status with the College.
Retired college employees and past members of the College’s Board of Trustees retain full staff borrowing privileges.
To check out materials patrons must present one of the following valid photo IDs: Three Rivers College ID, Missouri driver’s license or state ID card, or military ID Card.
Three Rivers College students, faculty and staff may have a maximum of 15 items checked out at a time, with a maximum of 5 DVDs.

MOBIUS Borrowing

Only students, faculty, and staff at Three Rivers College can request materials owned by other libraries within the state MOBIUS network.

The MOBIUS online catalog of holdings is available through the library’s web page.
A campus ID is required to access this service.
Some MOBIUS items are not available for loan; this is dependent upon the loan rules set for each institution.
All fees, renewals, and lost/damaged charges are determined by the lending institution.
Questions about MOBIUS and its operations can be answered by library staff.

Rutland Library Laptop Borrowing and Use: Current Students

Laptops are available to currently enrolled students with a current College photo ID.
Laptops are available for 2-hour periods and must remain in the TRC Rutland Library during use.
All patrons must have a signed “Library Laptop Checkout Agreement” form on file before being allowed to borrow a laptop. This agreement is signed once per semester and held by the library. Forms are available at the Circulation Desk.
Students checking out laptops are responsible for all costs if the laptop is lost, stolen, damaged, or overdue. The laptop replacement fee and the costs of replacing peripherals are each based on current equipment costs (market price).
Laptops are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be reserved in advance. Only one laptop at a time may be borrowed by an individual.
Laptops may be checked out at the Circulation Desk until one hour before the library closes. Laptops must be returned at least one-half hour before closing. Patrons should stay at the Circulation Desk until the laptop and its peripherals are checked and the patron’s record cleared.
If a student patron does not return a laptop, the laptop will be considered lost after 24 hours and the borrower will be charged the market price to replace the item.
Laptop checkouts may be renewed if there is no other student waiting. The library does not maintain a waiting list.
The library is not responsible for files or viruses left on laptops.
Laptops should never be left unattended.

Rutland Library Laptop Borrowing and Use: Current Employees

Laptops are available, for a 2-week period, with one renewal (maximum of one month), to currently employed Three Rivers College individuals with a valid College photo ID.
All patrons must have a signed “Library Laptop Checkout Agreement” on file before being allowed to borrow a laptop. This agreement is signed once per semester and held by the library. Forms are available at the Circulation Desk.
Employees checking out laptops are responsible for all costs if the laptop is lost, stolen, damaged, or overdue. The laptop replacement fee and the costs of replacing peripherals are each based on current equipment costs (market price).
Laptops are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may not be reserved in advance. Only one laptop at a time may be borrowed by an individual.
If the due date falls when the library is closed on weekends, for holidays, or because of inclement weather, laptops will be due on the first business day after the closing.
Laptops may be checked out at the Circulation Desk until 30 minutes before the library closes. Laptop checkouts must be returned to a staff person at the Circulation Desk. Patrons should stay at the desk until the computer and its peripherals are checked and the patron’s record cleared.
Employees must wait one business day before checking out another laptop.
The library is not responsible for files or viruses left on laptops.
Laptops should never be left unattended.

Loan Periods

Item Type	Students	Faculty and Staff
Book	28 Days	112 Days
DVD or software	7 Days	28 Days
Reserve materials	Varies*	Varies*
Laptop	2 Hours	14 Days
Textbook or Study Aid	2 Hours	2 Hours

* Depends on item type and instructor preference: 2 hours, 3 days, 7 days, or 14 days.

Renewals

Non-reserve books, DVDs, study aids, and laptops may be renewed a maximum of 2 times.
All other materials are ineligible for renewal.

Holds

Only current Three Rivers College students, faculty, and staff (Patrons) may place holds on books and DVDs that are currently checked out by other patrons.
Hold requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Books and DVDs will be held for a maximum of 14 days before being released back to the collection.
Laptops will be held for a maximum of 1 day before being released back to the collection.
Patrons who frequently fail to pick up items on hold may have their borrowing or hold privileges suspended.

Returns

Patrons should return all checked out library materials to either the Library Circulation Desk during regular hours or to the book drop when the library is closed. Rutland Library’s book drop is located on the east side of the ARC building under the covered sidewalk.
Materials will be inspected upon return to ensure that no damage has occurred to items.
Materials having multiple components will not be checked in until all pieces have been returned.
Items unable to be checked in because they are damaged or have missing components will be charged as outlined in the “Overdue Process” and “Damaged and Lost Items” sections of this regulation.
Patrons who frequently fail to return items in a timely manner may have their borrowing privileges suspended.

Overdue Process

After the 30th day books, DVDs, software, reserve materials, laptops, laptop peripherals, or study aids are overdue, the item is considered lost. The borrower will be charged the market price to replace the item.
Patrons who have accumulated charges may have their borrowing privileges suspended.
Borrowing privileges will only be reinstated and student account blocks removed when balances have been paid in full or the items in question are returned.
Patrons with a history of turning in items late may have their borrowing privileges restricted or suspended.

Damaged and Lost Items

Current Three Rivers College students, faculty, and staff are charged market price to replace damaged or lost books, DVDs, software, laptops, laptop peripherals, or study aids.
The library will only accept replacement items in lieu of a damaged or lost item charge on a case-by-case basis.
Refunds may be issued on a case-by-case basis.
Patrons who have accumulated damaged or lost item charges will have their borrowing privileges suspended.
Borrowing privileges will only be reinstated and account blocks on student accounts will only be removed when charges for damaged and lost items have been paid in full.
Patrons with a history of losing items or returning damaged items may have their borrowing privileges restricted or suspended.

Overdue Notice Process

Overdue notices are issued as a courtesy to all library patrons.
Non-receipt of an overdue notice does not exempt a patron from applicable charges.
To avoid notices of charges, materials should be returned or renewed by the due date.
The first overdue notice is issued on the first day an item is overdue.
The second overdue notice is issued on the 10th day an item is overdue.
On the 30th day that an item is overdue the item is considered lost, and a final notice is placed on the user account; charges for the market price of the lost item and blocks on the patron’s record are also issued at this time.

Inter-Library Loan (ILL)

Three Rivers College students, faculty, and staff may request materials through inter-library loan (ILL) that are not available in the Library’s collection.
Requests for ILL materials should be submitted in person or by phone; patrons should contact a library staff member about details.
Delivery time for ILL requests is usually a minimum of two weeks.
Patrons are required to pay any charges invoiced by the loaning institution or Mobius fees incurred for borrowed ILL materials.
Patrons assume financial responsibility for ILL items that are lost, damaged, or late.
Failure to pay any fines, fees, or charges will result in a block being placed on the patron’s library record. Additionally, if the patron is a student, an account block will be placed on the student's file until such time as the charges are paid.

Community Members

Borrowing

Only the TRC Rutland Library, located on the Poplar Bluff campus, allows community members to borrow books, DVDs, and software. The borrowing of laptop computers is not available to Community Members.

Community members over the age of 18 may obtain a User Account by completing a Rutland Library User Account Application.
To check out materials patrons must present one of the following valid photo IDs: Three Rivers College ID, Missouri driver’s license or state ID card, or military ID Card.
Community members may have a maximum of 2 items checked out at a time.
Library account holders are responsible for ensuring that the address and contact information on file is correct.
The library’s primary method of communication with account holders is via email. Therefore, a valid email address is required for all accounts.

Loan Periods

Item Type	Community Members
Book	28 Days
DVD or software	7 Days

Renewals

Books and DVDs may be renewed a maximum of 2 times.

Returns

Patrons should return all checked out library materials to either the Circulation Desk during regular hours or to the book drop when the library is closed. The library’s book drop is located on the east side of the ARC building under the covered sidewalk.
Materials will be inspected upon return to ensure that no damage has occurred to items.
Materials having multiple components will not be checked in until all pieces have been returned.
Patrons who frequently fail to return items in a timely manner may have their borrowing privileges suspended.

Damaged and Lost Items

Community members are charged market price to replace damaged or lost books, DVDs, or software,
The library will only accept replacement items in lieu of a damaged or lost item charge on a case-by-case basis.
Refunds may be issued on a case-by-case basis.
Patrons who have accumulated damaged or lost item charges may have their borrowing privileges suspended.
Borrowing privileges will only be reinstated when charges for damaged and lost items have been paid in full.
Patrons with a history of losing items or returning damaged items may have their borrowing privileges restricted or suspended.

Overdue Notice Process

Overdue notices are issued as a courtesy to all library patrons.
Non-receipt of an overdue notice does not exempt a patron from applicable lost item charges.
To avoid lost item charges, materials should be returned or renewed by the due date.
The first overdue notice is issued on the first day an item is overdue.
The second overdue notice is issued on the 10th day an item is overdue.
On the 30th day that an item is overdue the item is considered lost, and a final notice is placed on the user account; charges for the lost item’s market price will be billed and blocks on the patron’s record are also issued at this time

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

03-20-2024:

Initial approval of regulation.

IR 6223 Library Collection Development

Section: 6000 Instruction
Sub Section: 6200 Curriculum Services and Support
Title: IR 6223 Library Collection Development
Primary Policy: IP 6220 Library Services
Associated Policies: FP 3601 College Property; GAP 1200 Equal Opportunity; BP 0510 Policy Development, Adoption, and Review; IP 6112 Academic Freedom
Associated Regulations: GAR 1110 Policy and Regulation Development; FR 3620 Disposal of Surplus Property; IR 6221 Library Operations; IR 6222 Library Circulation Privileges
References: “CREW: a Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries,” by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission; American Library Association (ALA) “Professional Ethics,” “Freedom to Read Statement,” "Freedom to View Statement," and the "Library Bill of Rights" located on ALA website
Addendums: American Library Association (ALA) “Professional Ethics,” "Freedom to Read Statement,” “Freedom to View Statement,” "Library Bill of Rights," and “Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights”; Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources
Supersedes: Library Handbook
Responsible Administrator: Chief Academic Officer
Initial Approval: 03-20-2024	Last Revision:

Collection Development

This collection development regulation defines the scope, nature, and process of the Three Rivers College Rutland Library’s existing collections. The principles and plans for continuing development of resources as they relate to institutional goals, general selection criteria, and the rights of library users to receive information is central to the collection development policy. “Library collections” includes all resources in all formats acquired for use by students and faculty consistent with recognized education needs. Library resources will be provided through the College owned collection, membership in selected consortia, and/or through contracts with third-party vendors.

The collection priorities for the Three Rivers College Rutland Library are to:

support the curricular needs of the education programs of the College and the students enrolled in those programs.
support the professional growth and pedagogic needs of faculty within the scope of programs and degrees offered.
encourage individual self-directed lifelong learning for professional and personal growth in the chosen career paths of our students.
promote and teach information literacy skills to students.
assist in supporting our higher education partner institution students’ needs to access library resources at their home institutions.
develop partnerships with local public libraries extending student access to resources.
promote economic growth and community stability by providing resources for job seekers.

Collections

The collections consist of general circulating, reference, periodicals, reserves, special, and some miscellaneous collections. These collections may be physical or digital.

Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for all library programs, collections, and services is vested in the Three Rivers College Board of Trustees (Board). The Board delegates through the President of the College the authority to assign this responsibility to qualified library staff and faculty. Library staff in partnership with the faculty determine the collection scope based upon the curriculum offered by the college. The library staff use proven, reliable vendors either directly or through consortia for the licensing of databases (eResources) and the purchase of physical items with weight given to providing access to all College locations.

The Library Administrator may in turn delegate day-to-day responsibility for overseeing resource selection and collection development, considering curricular, faculty, and student needs for completing assignments and educational growth. The staff are to employ their professional responsibility, training, experience, and knowledge of bibliography, publishing, and data platforms. They must use various recognized professional tools to evaluate and select resources in accordance with the criteria listed below. The Library Administrator has the authority to override recommendations and approve or disapprove any selection decision, based on professional judgment and expertise, or consultation with College administration.

Material Selection

Principles

The library operates within the framework of the principles of freedom of speech (and the corollary right to receive information) and personal responsibility set forth in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article One, Section Eight of the Missouri Constitution.

The library attempts to provide diverse perspectives on a wide range of topics, including political, social, and religious, no matter how controversial or objectionable those ideas may be to some people. Resources are not restricted or excluded because of partisan, doctrinal, or personal disapproval of the race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, or sexual orientation of the content creator. Resources are not restricted or excluded because of the views expressed by the creator generally or in a specific resource. Selectors actively seek out resources representing different points of view and are responsive to the diverse needs and interests of the communities the library serves. No ideology should be collected and held to the exclusion of any other.

Resource selection may be limited by budget constraints and/or available shelf space. Resource sharing with other libraries provides an alternative means to fulfill library users' information needs and interests. Selection decisions are not based on the personal interests or preferences of library staff, faculty, employees, or volunteers. To do so would be a serious breach of professional responsibility and ethics. The selection of any resource should not be construed as an endorsement by the College of the content or views expressed therein.

Three Rivers College Rutland Library endorses and supports the American Library Associations (ALA) statements on the Freedom to Read/View, Ethics statement, and the Library Bill of Rights, which are incorporated as addendums.

The library has adopted as examples of best practices the following American Library Association documents (appended to this regulation):

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS
FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT
FREEDOM TO VIEW STATEMENT
LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS and its INTERPRETATIONS

Criteria

The following list of criteria is to be considered in the selection of library materials. This list is not in priority order, nor is it meant to be exhaustive. Any given resource is not required to meet every criteria to qualify for selection.

Alignment with curricular need
Favorable reviews in professionally recognized journals, from recommended resource lists and/or award lists and from professional organizations
The quality and reputation of the work within the scope of the cognate field covered
Subject, style, and reading level is appropriate for the intended audience
Timeliness or permanent value and accuracy of material
Diversity of sources; including new, small, independent publishers/distributors as well as long-established major publishers/distributors
Presents alternative or diverse voices and viewpoints
Price in relation to terms and conditions of access
Budget constraints in relation to overall collection budget
Intended usage and frequency of use in support of curriculum
Accessibility and quality of physical or electronic format for library users with special needs
Appropriateness of format for access, shelving, maintenance, and space
Scope and depth of present library collection or availability of resources in other libraries via Interlibrary Loan or within the community
Clarity, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and logic of subject treatment
Vitality and originality
Artistic presentation
Demand for downloadable resources that can be remotely accessed online
Authority or authenticity of materials
Student access (technology availability)

Requests for Purchase

Three Rivers Colleges Rutland Library encourages users to suggest resources to be added to library collections. User suggestions alert library staff to new authors, trends, or developing issues or interests among faculty and students. Assuming user suggestions meet selection criteria, these are accorded priority in purchasing. If approved for purchase, the user who suggested the resource is notified of its arrival.

Acquisitions Procedures

Item selection by library staff is in conjunction with faculty recommendations and support or expressed needs for the curriculum, information literacy development, and students. Each selector (faculty or librarian) is responsible for recommending material for purchase in their assigned subject areas. Library staff must work with faculty members to identify material and make purchasing decisions that best meet the needs of the curriculum.

Special Collections

Academic Library Special Collections

Special areas or collections reflect the College mission and state, local, and College history. Selection of materials can be in a variety of formats that support the curriculum and research needs unique to the institution. Librarians will set the standard for acquiring and accepting materials in these collections, considering the collection’s storage needs, environmental preservation needs, and security requirements with possible limited access for users. Selection criteria should reflect the unique collection development needs of these “special areas” and include the consideration of donations.

Selecting and Excluding Controversial Materials

The library serves the curricular, educational, and information literacy needs of Three Rivers College. The library serves the faculty, students, and staff of the college. As a result, materials are selected with this audience and their educational goals in mind.

The Library Administrator is expressly charged with the responsibility to execute, in good faith and with the highest degree of professional skill, the collection development policy of the Rutland Library. The Library Administrator is professionally obligated to resist with equal good faith, skill and vigor, the efforts of any individual or group to compel the addition or withdrawal of library resources, or to limit free access to library resources, or to modify the selection process based upon criteria substantially in conflict with this policy. Resources that present a frank and uncompromising portrait of social conditions or intimate aspects of human experience shall not be excluded or restricted because of explicit language or description. The library acknowledges that such resources may offend some users. But if the content meets the standards of the written selection policy, responds to the curricular needs, and broadens the range and diversity of the collection, the selection is justified. Disapproval by an individual or group does not justify denying access to everyone else. Every user has the right to judge for him/herself, but not to impose his/her judgment on all other users. Separating collections based upon content is not allowed except in cases of faculty requests for reserve collections.

The library does not provide textbooks or multiple copies of print resources for classrooms. The availability of simultaneous access to electronic resources for classrooms, reserves, or students in synchronous or asynchronous instruction will vary depending on the access rights included in the library’s contract with the vendor.

Library resources are organized and maintained in collections for users to locate the resource(s) of their choice without constraint. The cataloging and shelving of resources does not reflect value judgments on their content. The library does not assign locations or include warning statements about specific resources in the public access catalog to discourage or restrict access.

All resources are shelved in their proper order on open shelves, except for rare or fragile materials, special collections, reserves, unique items, format (print, DVD, Audio, etc.), or over-sized formats.

The library ordinarily does not purchase costly specialized resources of limited interest. The Rutland Library collections are designed to the support the lower division curriculum of the College; therefore, material designed for upper division courses or extensive research are not normally held. The library staff refers users to such specialized libraries in the region, assists with interlibrary loan services, or suggests online resources as suitable alternatives.

The library participates in regional and national resource sharing collaborations that expand access to other library collections by mutual interlibrary lending agreements. Resources made available through these collaborations are subject to the resource selection and development policies of the respective institutions and consortia.

Copyright

All materials housed in or accessed from the Rutland Library must conform to copyright laws of the United States, adhere to public performance rights, provide licensed access to digital materials, and be acquired legally. Pirated materials will be removed immediately from the collection until ownership can be determined if a complaint is received. If it is found that the Rutland Library does not have legal ownership of items, the materials are to be destroyed.

Gifts and Donations

The acquisition/acceptance of library gifts and donations are evaluated based on the College mission and policies. Accepted material should support the curriculum, special collections, and research needs of the college community as outlined in the library’s acquisition procedure and selection policy and shall be coordinated with the Office of Development. Gifts needing special care, preservation, and storage may not be accepted as the materials may be beyond the institution’s available facilities and expertise. Items of significant value (to be determined by financial services) shall be reported to the Director of Procurement and Risk management. The library reserves the right to determine the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to the use or disposition of all gifts. The library assumes no responsibility for appraisal of gift items, nor can the library accept items under restricted conditions.

Regardless of monetary, historic, or cultural value of a gift, the library must resist quid pro quo stipulations regarding the selection or deselection of materials.

Collection Maintenance and Weeding

Regular or sampled inventories should be conducted every two to three years. This allows for review of the collection for condition, availability, and usefulness. The Integrated Library System (ILS) must be maintained by removing weeded items and should reflect the collection accurately.

Weeding

The purpose of weeding is to continuously reevaluate and refresh the collection in conjunction with the selection of new and replacement resources or changes in college curriculum and teaching methods and modalities.

Library staff with faculty consultation determine which materials, databases, and other resources to retain and/or replace. Dated, worn, damaged or no longer relevant library items are weeded or deselected from the collections based on professional standards and procedures. Just as selectors are responsible for specific subjects, genres, or formats, they are also responsible for weeding those areas, in keeping with general standards for library collections.

Criteria for Weeding

The library employs professional collection management procedures, including CREW: a Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries (Austin, Texas: The Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 2012) to determine when resources should be withdrawn from the library collections. Factors considered when weeding include the physical condition of the item, number of copies available, frequency and currency of use, adequate coverage in the field, continuing relevance, alternative formats, and availability of updated content. The CREW method (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) uses an acronym, MUSTIE, to indicate when an item should be removed from the collection.

MUSTIE stands for:

M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate)

U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending or rebinding)

S = Superseded (by a truly new edition or by a much better book on the subject)

T = Trivial (of no discernible literary or scientific merit; usually of ephemeral interest at some time in the past)

I = Irrelevant to the needs and interests of institution

E = The material or information may be obtained expeditiously Elsewhere through interlibrary loan, reciprocal borrowing, or in electronic format.

While the Three Rivers Colleges Rutland Library attempts to maintain copies of standard and important works relevant to the curriculum, it does not automatically replace all resources withdrawn. The same criteria that apply to original selection also apply to replacements. The library participates in regional and national resource sharing collaborations that expand access to collections by mutual lending agreements. Resources shared through these collaborations are subject to the weeding policies of their respective consortia.

College policy FP 3601 College Property and regulation FR 3620 Disposal of Surplus Property shall be followed for disposal of withdrawn resources or materials.

College employees are prohibited from withdrawing or discarding library resources with the intent to resell them for personal profit. The library does not accept requests to hold discarded items for individuals.

Revision

This regulation shall be reviewed at least every five years and revised in accordance with BP 0510 Policy Development, Adoption, and Review and GAR 1110 Policy and Regulation Development.

Requests for Reconsideration of Material

The library welcomes comments on resources selected or not selected for inclusion in library collections. Such comments often bring to the Library Administrator’s attention to user needs and interests not being adequately met. Often concerns can be satisfied by inviting users to discuss them with the Library Administrator. However, if this does not suffice, the user (faculty, administration, or students) may address their concerns through the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources.” When these requests are received and signed by a TRC card holder (faculty, staff, student), the Library Administrator shall:

consult with library staff examining the resource in question, check reviews, and determine whether it conforms to the priorities and criteria of the library selection and collection development policy.
reconsider the classification of a resource in consultation with the appropriate faculty to determine if the existing classification is appropriate for its subject, style, theme, and intended audience.
present the reconsideration request, along with the written review and recommendation by the Library Administrator to the Chief Academic Officer. Upon consultation and approval/dissent of the Chief Academic Officer, the initiator of the request is informed of the decision. The requestor may appeal the decision to the President of the College. The President’s decision is final.
continue to insure items are available to the public, pending final disposition of the request for reconsideration.

DOCUMENT HISTORY:

03-20-2024:

Initial approval of regulation.