Sec.10a-34-18. Library and learning resources

(a) Adequate resources. The institution shall be required to demonstrate that its library includes or will include sufficient printed materials and other learning resources to support the needs of each program. The adequacy of library materials and other learning resources shall be determined by reference to the number, variety, currency and suitability of books, periodicals, newspapers, microforms, audiovisual aids and other materials in the collection; library hours, location and accessibility of these materials; the annual budget for purchase of new books and other materials; and the method of selection of new materials. Sufficient budget support shall be available to ensure continuous development of the library collection and the adaptation of library resources to student needs.

(b) Resource sharing. Inter-institutional cooperative arrangements for sharing learning resources are encouraged, provided that such arrangements shall be used only to supplement the basic library services provided by the institution. If students enrolled in a program will be required to rely in part upon the library holdings of another institution or organization, the institution offering the program shall be required to (1) demonstrate that such holdings are adequate to support both the program in question and the programs of the cooperating institution and (2) provide written verification from the cooperating institution that students enrolled in the program will have adequate access to these holdings and to the necessary support services of the cooperating library on the same basis as the regular patrons of the library.

(c) Library personnel. The planning coordination and direction of library and learning resource activities shall be the responsibility of personnel with appropriate training, including both professional and support staff. Faculty shall be involved in the selection of new library materials and learning resources.

(d) Off-campus programs. Library support for off-campus programs is subject to the following requirements:

(1) There shall be provision for a core collection, including both circulating and reference materials sufficient to meet the needs of both students and faculty, to be provided either at the site or via written agreement with a nearby library.

(2) There shall be provision for a reserve reading collection at or near the site.

(3) There shall be provision for professional library staff support for library services at or near the off-campus site.

(4) There shall be provision for additional materials to supplement the core collection, e.g., through computerized bibliographic access and a document delivery system.

(5) There shall be provision for adequate annual budget support for library resources at or near the site.

(Effective March 7, 1986)