LibAnswers: UCBA Library Policies

UC Blue Ash College Library  

Collection Development Policy 

Mission and Goals 

The UC Blue Ash College (UCBA) Library is guided by its mission of empowering the UCBA community, including students, faculty, staff, and affiliates, to succeed in a complex information environment. It supports the Vision and Core Values of the UCBA Library and aligns with the Missions and Visions of the UCBA College, the University of Cincinnati Libraries, and the broader University of Cincinnati. The collection development guidelines are coordinated with the following goals:  

Standards of Accreditation   

UCBA is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Criterions three and four represent overarching goals that the library strives to meet with its collections.  

The Library also meets the Standards for Libraries in Higher Education as set forth by the Association of College and Research Libraries. The standard entitled "Resources" addresses collection development.  The Library also supports individual departmental accreditations.  

Clientele   

The UCBA Library prioritizes the academic needs of students by developing a collection that supports coursework and learning outcomes. It also provides pedagogical resources to assist faculty in effective teaching. While the collection is accessible to the public, selection decisions are based on the academic priorities of the UC Blue Ash College, not general community needs served by the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library. 

Collection Development Responsibility   

The UCBA Library builds its collection with an understanding of its relationship to other University of Cincinnati Libraries as well as to the State of Ohio's institutional collections, as represented in OhioLINK. As a result, our users have access not only to UC’s extensive resources but also to a broad range of materials from academic libraries across the state. 

Library Faculty  

UCBA Library faculty, in collaboration with the UCBA Collection Services Manager and subject-area faculty, are responsible for developing, assessing, and maintaining collections in their assigned areas. They also serve as liaisons to designated academic departments. All college stakeholders are encouraged to recommend materials within their areas of expertise and in alignment with collection development priorities. To contact a Library Faculty member, refer to faculty and staff page.  

Library Director  

The UCBA Library Director has responsibility for the UCBA Library collection, including oversight of collection development, maintenance, assessment, and budget processes. The UCBA Library Director also serves as a member of the UCBA College Curriculum Committee to support alignment between the library collection and the college’s curricular priorities.  

Collection Assessment   

Our collection development policy follows American Library Association (ALA) guidance to support and reflect our established Criteria for Selection of Library Materials (see below). Library faculty, with input from subject-area faculty, regularly assess the collection to ensure it aligns with these criteria. 

Criteria for Selection of Materials   

The primary consideration for selecting materials in any format is the relevance of the material to the academic priorities of the college. This includes:  

Types of Materials (print and electronic) Collected by the Library:  

Textbooks  

In general, textbooks and required course materials are not purchased for the collection. However, textbooks may be purchased when they represent the most appropriate format (e.g. when other materials in that subject area are too specialized or when the textbook is considered a foundational or classic work) or when required for Course Reserves. 

Electronic Resources  

To support both on- and off-campus access, preference may be given to electronic resources when available. Individual electronic items (e.g., books, media) will be evaluated using the same selection criteria as all other materials. 

UC Libraries Shared Electronic Resources 

As part of the University of Cincinnati Libraries system, most electronic resources are accessible to all UC users, regardless of which library purchases them, with some exceptions. The cross-jurisdictional Shared Electronic Resources Committee (SERC) reviews and evaluates shared electronic resources and makes recommendations to the Cross-Jurisdictional Council. This includes assessing ongoing sponsored resources annually to determine whether to continue, cancel, or place them on a watch list while considering alternatives and budget impact. 

Deselection of Materials   

As part of ongoing collection maintenance and assessment, library faculty in coordination with the Collection Services Manager identify materials for removal based on the applicable Criteria for Selection of Materials and the physical condition of the items. When needed, library faculty may consult with subject-area faculty to inform final decisions.  

Deselected titles may be offered to other UC or OhioLINK libraries, donated to Better World Books, or recycled, depending on condition and reuse options. All decisions follow the library’s collection development and management procedures to ensure responsible, sustainable handling of withdrawn materials. 

Gifts and Donations   

Monetary donations may be made to the UC Foundation for the benefit of the UCBA Library. The Library will accept materials donations on a limited basis in alignment with the Criteria for Selection of Materials. Please contact UCBA Library’s Collection Services Manager if you would like to make a donation of materials.  

Materials Not Accepted  

Ownership of Materials 

All materials donated to the UCBA Library become the property of the UCBA Library and are subject to all applicable selection and deselection policies.  

Acknowledgement of Gifts and Donations of Materials  

A brief acknowledgment letter can be provided upon request, but we do not include an itemized list of donated materials. We are also unable to offer tax advice or appraisals. Please consult the Internal Revenue Service for relevant publications and forms. 

Special Placement of Materials  

Donated materials cannot be placed in a special collection or designated area of the library.  

Intellectual and Academic Freedom  

In support of intellectual and academic freedom, the UCBA Library is guided by the standards and guidelines of the American Library Association and the Association for College and Research Libraries.  

Challenge Materials Process 

Individuals or groups wishing to challenge the inclusion of material in the UCBA Library are asked to submit the Request for Reconsideration or complete the printed form. A link to the Library’s Collection Development Policy will be provided via the online request form and the printed form.  You will receive a response in 3 business days indicating the next steps. 

Online forms will automatically be routed to the UCBA Library Director. Please submit a completed print copy of the form to: 

Library Director, UC Blue Ash College  
9555 Plainfield Road  
Cincinnati, Ohio 45236