The following are the primary factors that the Library considers in making acquisition decisions for materials in our collection:
- relevance of material to the Drake curriculum
- critical review or quality of the material content
- listing in standard bibliographies and guides
- reputation or authoritativeness of the publisher
- reputation or authoritativeness of the author
- calculated or estimated price per use
- potential for use or known need
- strength or weakness of the collection in particular areas; we will collect materials in greater quantity and specificity in selected subject areas based upon the definition of our collection levels as well as endeavoring to collect in areas designated as being important but lacking
- usefulness with respect to other materials in the collection, including the representation of all sides of controversial issues
- duplication of other similar subject coverage including materials available as part of databases or e-book collections
- currency of the material, especially as it relates to the physical and social sciences
- lasting value of the material for an academic collection
- ability to obtain the material through other means, such as electronic access, document delivery, ILL or other nearby libraries with more appropriate resources in particular subject areas
- preference will be given to electronic materials that can be accessed remotely whenever possible and practical
