Collection Development Policy
The purpose of Music Library collection development at the University of Northern Colorado is to support instruction and research in the School of Music and the Musical Theatre Department, and to support these, to the extent possible, to a degree relative to each program's or concentration's relative strength.
Some music-related publications, such as choral octavos and large-ensemble parts, are collected and maintained by ensemble libraries in the UNC School of Music, and consequently are not collected by the Music Library.
Due to limited resources, no attempt is made to collect books and study materials that are required student purchases for individual courses. Materials outside the scope of School of Music and Musical Theatre instruction are not normally collected.
When CDs are acquired in this manner, the corresponding LPs are withdrawn fro the collection.
Western art music is not only the object of most music study within the School of Music; it is studied by all music students, even those specializing in jazz and musical theatre. Consequently, a comprehensive and extensive collection of Western art music recordings is essential. Furthermore, the Music Library commits itself to offering a variety of differing interpretations of core repertoire, particularly with regard to Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic works, where both standard concert performances and historically-informed performances (using period instruments and striving to reproduce period practices) are essential objects of study. We note the following specific parameters:
The Music Library recognizes that jazz, even more than Western art music, is learned from the study of actual performances, and thus recognizes the crucial importance of acquiring and maintaining a comprehensive collection of those major jazz artists and styles suitable for study in an academic jazz program. To this end, the Music Library strives toward a collection that offers a representative overview of all important artists, and comprehensive coverage of major artists, in big band, bebop, hard bop, post-bop, third stream, and avant-garde styles. Early styles (e.g. authentic Dixieland, stride) and newer pop-influenced styles (e.g. soul-jazz, fusion) are collected when relevant to serious jazz study. Instrumental and vocal pop is largely ignored, although recordings by crossover artists of serious jazz content will be collected in moderation. All featured solo instruments are collected in roughly equal importance; vocal jazz styles (scat, vocalese) are collected as they are perceived relevant to jazz study. LP holdings are included in a calculation of collection strength.
The addition of databases to the existing subscription profile will be considered on the basis of cost, usefulness, nonduplication of available print resources, stability, and currency.
Microforms are no longer purchased.
The current subscription profile seeks to reflect research and performance interests related to the School of Music curriculum. (Theatre periodicals of interest to Musical Theatre students are collected by Michener Library.) The profile is renewed annually. Except in extraordinarily compelling cases, and assuming no increase in collection funds, no new subscriptions are added unless current subscriptions equivalent to their cost are dropped.
Patrons may request the purchase of items at any time. Decision to purchase is based on the following criteria, which are listed roughly in descending order:
Donations are gratefully accepted provided that
The Music Library pledges itself to
Acknowledgement of donations by means of bookplates or other on-item donor tags will be provided only in exceptional circumstances (e.g. exceptionally large or rare collections).
The Music Library cannot pick up donations and cannot reimburse shipping costs.
No special policies.
These are collected only when demonstrably compatible with current CD playback equipment (both in computer and stereo component systems).
These are neither accepted nor forwarded to the University Libraries Book Sale.
Accepted, but added to the collection only in response to compelling need.
No other audio formats are collected, although infrequent and minor exceptions are made in compelling circumstances. Donations of such items are routinely forwarded to the University Libraries Book Sale. Ten- and twelve-inch 78-rpm recordings are not accepted for donation at all, unless of local interest or high collector value. Other uncommon or obsolete formats (e.g. wire recordings, disc recordings of unusual size, speed, or color) are accepted only to the extent that the Music Library needs examples of such formats for purposes of demonstrating the history of recorded sound.
Added to the collection in exceptional cases as long as the Library's playback equipment is functional.
Not accepted.
Accepted, but added to the collection only when need for the item is exceptional.
Accepted, but added to the collection only under the following circumstances
These are replaced whenever possible, provided that the replacement serves collection needs. If replacement is desirable but impossible, they are officially withdrawn, but the Librarian will maintain a list of such items in the event that their content again becomes commercially available.
These are replaced whenever possible, provided that the replacement serves collection needs. If replacement is desirable but impossible, they are officially withdrawn, but the Librarian will maintain a list of such items in the event that their content again becomes commercially available.
Whenever possible, the preferred replacement format is CD.
Whenever possible, the preferred replacement format is DVD.
Whenever possible, replacements are purchased using the Music Library replacement fund (fund 51180).
The collections are weeded of superfluous items on a yearly basis. Considerations in this process are
No other formats are weeded at present.
Date of most recent revision: 11 April 2019
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