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Collection Guidelines

Collection Guidelines

Gifts

Donated materials are subject to the same selection criteria as purchased materials. The library particularly welcomes donations of current textbooks.

  • Gifts are accepted with the understanding that items received might not be added to the collection. The materials become the exclusive property of Langara College Library, to be retained or disposed of in whatever ways seem most appropriate.
  • Items not suitable for addition to the collection will be disposed of as per the gift policy.
  • The library does not notify donors of the final disposition of individual items nor does it return items.

Some exceptions will apply based on the Gift librarian’s recommendation.

Non-fiction donations

  • Donated non-fiction items in good physical condition will be assessed for content. If appropriate for the library, based on the Guidelines for Selection, they will be catalogued, given an LC call number and shelved in the stacks.

Fiction donations

  • Donated fiction hardbound items in good physical condition will be assessed for content. If appropriate for the library, based on the Guidelines for Selection, they will be catalogued, given an LC call number and shelved in the stacks.
  • Donated fiction paperbacks items in good physical condition will be assessed for content. If appropriate for the library, they will be catalogued, given a call number of FIC + first 3 letters of author’s last name and shelved in the Paperback collection.
  • When a bibliographic record for a hardbound fiction item with an LC call number already exists for a donated paperback title in good physical condition, the paperback item will be attached to that hardcover bibliographic record with a FIC call number.
  • Only one copy of each paperback title will be kept.

Media/audiovisual donations

  • Donated media items must include any licensing and public performance permissions required for use at Langara.

The library does not evaluate or issue tax receipts for gifts donated to other areas of the College, but will share its assessment procedures with other departments. For further information contact the Coordinator, Technical Services.