Lafayette College Library

The Collections and Collection Development

The Lafayette Library collections include over 500,000 volumes and subscriptions to over 1,750 periodicals and newspapers. Although most new acquisitions continue to be printed on paper, the Library collects information in any format, whether old or new, needed to meet present and anticipated teaching and research needs of the College. New media and formats, such as electronic journals and DVDs, complement the range of material currently being acquired.

The Library’s collection development goals are (in descending order of priority): 1) to provide a collection that supports the College’s varied and dynamic curriculum; 2) to provide material that supports faculty research, especially research that leads to growth of the curriculum and the participation of students in research and independent study; 3) to provide informational and recreational reading material for the College community.

Development of the Library’s collections is a joint responsibility of teaching faculty and librarians. Together, they assure the availability of works basic to a discipline, as well as works that represent the current state of thinking. Representation of diverse opinions and approaches is sought. However, a strong effort is made to include in the Library’s collection the publications that provide a common vocabulary for all those engaged in the study of a subject.

Faculty members carry the major responsibility for monitoring new publications in their fields and notifying the Library of important titles relating to their teaching and research. Each academic department is assigned a librarian, who shares responsibility for collection development. The librarian sends to faculty materials they need to make selection decisions (e.g., publishers’ catalogs and reviews) and seeks to ensure balance and coverage, especially in interdisciplinary areas. In addition, the librarian looks for early announcements of important new publications, so these items can be ordered before they are needed by a reader.

Because it is impossible for the Library to develop comprehensive collections except in a few narrow areas, library staff assure faculty and students access to the widest possible range of material through document delivery arrangements with other libraries and collections.

The Acquisitions Department

The Acquisitions Department is responsible for ordering and receiving books for Skillman and Kirby Libraries.

Placing Book Orders

Suggestions for purchase of new material are welcome from all library users and members of the college community. Requests may be placed through an online form. Faculty may also make requests through their individual department's faculty collection coordinator or librarian.

Orders for faculty can be expedited per the following priorities :

• Rush catalog -- Per faculty request, an item will be catalogued immediately upon receipt and the requestor will be duly notified. (The normal processing period upon receipt can be two weeks.)
• Rush order -- If the book is needed within the next two weeks, the requestor should let Acquisitions staff know by e-mail or phone. Please note the library will be charged extra fees for this service.

Other Services

Faculty are welcome to contact the Acquisitions Department about any aspect of acquiring material for the libraries.