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A. Collection Statement: Cowles Library Information Resources
In order to serve the information needs of Drake University, Cowles Library provides collections of materials, access to electronic resources, and temporary use of materials from other libraries through interlibrary loan. The following policies provide guidelines for these elements.
B. Physical Collections
Cowles Library receives and maintains collections of books, periodicals, newspapers and music scores in paper formats. Cowles Library receives and maintains collections of periodicals and newspapers in microfilm format for which we have appropriate reading equipment. Cowles Library receives and maintainsmultimedia resourcesfor which we have appropriate equipment. All such media are cataloged and available for use in Cowles Library or for checkout where allowed. Cowles Library does not purchase or maintain collections of commercial software, art pieces, maps, or slides. If such materials are supplemental to a book, they are treated as accompanying material and shelved with the book.
C. Electronic Resources
Cowles Library makes electronic materials available to Drake University faculty, staff, and students including remote access whenever possible. All contracts and licensing agreements provide access to the whole Drake community whenever possible and are administered by the Library.
D. Interlibrary Loan
All Drake faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students have access to this service. Materials (books, microfilm, DVDs, VHS tapes, and journal articles) not owned by Cowles Library are borrowed from other libraries to use.
Cowles Library also tries to supply requested articles to patrons through document supply services or purchasing article/issue directly from the publisher.
Textbooks are not borrowed through Interlibrary Loan for students because limited time periods do not allow semester usage.
(See also the Cowles Library Interlibrary Loan web page.)
E. Items Cowles Library does not actively collect
The Library does not actively collect materials primarily intended to support specific class instruction or for individual study or research including: textbooks, lab manuals, workbooks, examinations, tutorials, demonstrations, exercises, course descriptions, reading lists, or forms. Materials of this nature may be placed on reserve at the library either in physical or electronic format but are not intended to be added to the permanent collection.
The Library does not actively collect multiple copies of the same title (placing personal copies on reserve is encouraged as an alternative). Exception:The Library will usually purchase two copies of a book by a Drake author, with one circulating or on reserve as necessary and the second copy being deposited in special collections.
The Library does not actively collect materials for use by the visually impaired such as Braille or large-type editions or audio transcriptions. There are, however, facilities on campus to do limited conversion of some library materials to make them accessible. (See Drake University Disability Services.)
The Library does not actively collect general catalogs of academic institutions, commercial organizations, art galleries, etc.
The Library does not actively collect materials proselytizing religious beliefs, philosophical and psychological practices, self-improvement methods, or political movements and organizations.
The Library does not actively collect materials promoting commercial products, companies or public personalities.
Exceptions to the above may be made if an instructional or research purpose can be demonstrated, and if the purchase is approved by the Library.
F. Collection Level definitions
The following definitions are taken from the Library of Congress. They are intended to provide a guideline for the level of resources the library strives to provide for different subject areas as they relate to the Drake curriculum, in terms of both physical collections and access to electronic resources.