• Helm 3001, Cravens 100, and Cravens 111 are designated  primarily  for  library-related  instruction  purposes  where  instruction  is  led  by  a  faculty  librarian  or  where  classes  are doing  library-related  research.
• Cravens  212  in  the  VPAL  (Visual  &  Performing  Arts  Library)  may  be  reserved  upon  request under  the  same  conditions  as  other  rooms  covered  by  this  policy.
• Teaching  faculty  may  reserve  the  classroom  for  library-related  instruction  such  as  use  of  the Library’s  databases,  or  to  complete  assignments  developed  collaboratively  with  librarians. Teaching  faculty  who  use  the  rooms  for  library  assignments  should  be  in  touch  with  their faculty  subject  specialist  librarian  for  planning  and  to  reserve  the  room  at  least  two  weeks  in advance  of  the  anticipated  visit.
• Library  classrooms  may  not  be  used  for  regular  classes,  exam  sessions  or  other  non-library initiated  or  non-library  related  purposes,  except  for  classes  taught  by  library  faculty  or  staff.
• Instruction  sessions  by  library  faculty  and  staff  have  priority  over  all  other  uses  of  the  room.
• WKU  Libraries  faculty  and  staff  may  reserve  and  use  library  classrooms  for  training, committees,  task  forces,  or  professional  organizations.
• Student  organizations  may  reserve  and  use  the  rooms  on  an  occasional  basis  after  4:30  pm Monday  –  Friday  or  during  business  hours  on  the  weekend.  Student  groups  may  not  use  the rooms  on  a  standing  basis  without  approval  of  the  Dean  of  Libraries.
• Use  of  rooms  and  equipment  must  be  in  accordance  with  WKU’s  Internet  Use  Policy  and  the Student  Technology  Center  Lab  Policies.  No  library  computer  may  be  used  for  illegal  or unethical  activities.
• If  software  classroom  computers  need  software  to  be  installed,  requests  must  be  made  to  the Library  Systems  Office  at  least  one  week  in  advance.  No  one  may  alter,  tamper,  revise  or otherwise  change  any  software,  hardware,  furniture,  or  classroom  equipment.
• Anyone  who  wishes  to  use  the  teaching  station  and  related  equipment  in  the  classroom  must receive  instruction  on  the  proper  use  of  the  equipment  prior  to  using  the  room.  All  equipment is  the  responsibility  of  the  individual  who  has  reserved  the  room.
• For  more  information  about  the  Library's  instruction  program,  please  call  the  Library Reference  Desk  at  (270)  745-6125.

Approved  by  the  Library  Leadership  Council and  the  Dean  of  University  Libraries May 8,  2017 

Coming Soon!

Statement of Purpose

WKU Libraries is committed to student success at Western Kentucky University.  Providing a robust collection of relevant library materials is central to that goal.  The Library is dedicated to obtaining and maintaining a collection that supports curriculum based instruction and promotes information literacy.  

Collection Development is the process of building a balanced collection based on the information needs of library users. Curriculum based selection criteria, strategic item replacement, and periodic deaccessioning are all factors in the collection development process. These factors are additionally impacted by responsible use of the library’s finite financial resources.  

Selection Guidelines

WKU Libraries uses a number of methods to identify new items for our collection.  The library acquires both print and electronic collections for the campus community. Our selection process places an emphasis on electronic acquisitions when possible to serve the widest variety of patrons.  Acquisitions prioritizes newly published materials but older materials are also considered when a gap in the library collection is discovered. As a rule, the Library cannot purchase traditional textbooks. The library does support Open Educational Resources and purchases electronic books and streaming media for use in the classroom.

Library Collection Management

Library personnel periodically examine the entire collection to de-accession materials that no longer meet the University’s needs. Physical items are removed for a number of criteria including, but not limited to: Age and condition of the material, use by library patrons, availability of newer editions, relevance to current curriculum and availability from lending partners via Interlibrary Loan.  Electronic items are similarly evaluated based on curriculum needs and usage statistics where possible. The Library does not routinely accept gifted materials.  Donations that fill a specific gap in our collection may be considered, however.  All gifted materials become the property of WKU Libraries, which reserves the right to determine their retention, location, and disposition.   

Approved by Library Leadership Council, 04/13/2021 

There  are  many  ways to sponsor  the  WKU  Libraries  mission  to support  the quest  for  knowledge, understanding, creativity, and innovation.  For  details,  please  see  the  WKU  Libraries  Development Office  webpage:  https://www.wku.edu/library/development/index.php

Donors  interested in  supporting  the  WKU  Department  of  Library  Special  Collections,  can locate  more information here:  https://www.wku.edu/library/dlsc/documents/dlsc-collection-policies.pdf

For all  other  type of  material  donations, please  contact  the Coordinator  of Acquisitions and  Collection Services  at  (270)  745-6156  or the Head  of  Technical  Services  at  (270)  745-6151.  Upon receipt, donated material  becomes  the property  of  WKU  Libraries  and,  as  such, reserve the  right  to  determine their  retention,  location,  cataloging  treatment,  and other  considerations  related  to  use  or  disposition. WKU Libraries  may  decide  to accept  only  selected  items from  an offered gift.  The Dean  of  Libraries  or his /her  designee  must  approve gifts requiring  a commitment  of  funds for  special  facilities  and processing.

All  potential  gifts will  be  evaluated  in  terms of  the  collection  development  goals  of  WKU  Libraries,  as well  as  the physical  condition  of  the material.  WKU  Libraries  does  not  accept:

• Factors  considered when reviewing  gift  material  include:
• The  material  supports the  WKU  academic curricula    
• The  strengths and weaknesses of the existing  collections
• Potential  duplication  in  material  already held  
• The  age, condition,  and  format  of  the  material  
• Textbooks  or  sets  of  general  content  encyclopedias (Colliers, World Book,  etc.)
• Periodicals, unless the issues fill  in gaps in  the  collection
• Reel  to Reel,  VHS tapes  for  films, and Cassette  tapes for  music  
• Non-Commercially,  self-produced,  or copies of commercially produced materials

When  a gift  is  accepted, the  donor will  receive a  letter  of  acknowledgment  from  the Acquisitions Unit. This  letter  will  not  include  a list  of  donated  items  nor  an estimate of  the value of the gift.  

Tax  and  Appraisal  Information

Federal  tax  law generally  allows individual  donors who  give non-cash gifts to  the  WKU  Libraries  to claim  a charitable  contribution for  the  fair  market  value of  the gift. Donors  are  encouraged  to consult legal,  tax accounting  or other  professional  advisors  about the current  IRS regulations (www.irs.gov) governing non-cash charitable contributions.  The  WKU  Libraries is  not  permitted  by the IRS to give donors an  estimate of the  value of  gifts. Donors are  responsible for  meeting  the appraisal  requirements  of  the IRS for  any  contributions  claimed. The appraisal  of  a gift  for  income tax purposes  is  the  responsibility  of  the  donor. Last  updated:

Approved by Library Leadership Council March, 25,  2019

An Ad Hoc Reconsideration Committee shall consist of  4 or 6 members, chaired by the Coordinator of Collection Services. The chair shall only vote in the event of a tie. An even number of members is required.  Each challenge requires a new committee.

University Libraries faculty, staff and student workers and faculty from other WKU departments (when warranted) will convene as a pool from which the committee is selected. Rather than a standing committee, the membership should rotate among a broad selection of people appropriate to the library location and content.

The committee shall consider not only the concerns of the person making the challenge to the material, but also the material in the context of the libraries’ collections as a whole and in regard to the policies and mission of the libraries.

The committee shall make its recommendation regarding the disposition of the challenged materials to the Dean of Libraries, who will provide the official decision about the materials and notify the individual or group.

The Challenged Materials Study Group Recommends

1. That the WKU Libraries Challenged Materials Policy be  posted on our website and a handout createdconcerning this topic for dissemination at service points. A standard form of recourse concerning access issues about challenged materials will be placed in the Dean of Libraries office.
2. That all challenged materials will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
3. That a method for handling complaints should be established:
   • A form is created to be distributed as needed to anyone wishing to challenge an item from the collection.
   • An Ad Hoc Reconsideration Committee for Challenged Materials is formed to deal with complaints or challenges concerning any WKU Libraries materials.

   This committee will:

   1. Read, view, or listen to the challenged material in its entirety;
   2. Review the selection process and the criteria for selection;
   3. Check reviews, recommended lists and/or contact institutional peers to determine recommendations by the  experts and critics;
   4. Meet to discuss the challenge;
   5. Make a recommendation to the Dean of Libraries on removal, retention, reassignment, or replacement.

   The Dean of Libraries approves or disapproves of the committee’s decision and notifies the individual or group about the library’s decision.

4. In-service training will be provided (and/or made available by PowerPoint) to all WKU Library faculty, staff, and students concerning the procedure for dealing with a complaint concerning challenged materials.  Dan Forrest and Jack Montgomery will provide this in-service training as needed on an annual basis or as requested.

Challenged Materials: Statement regarding Censorship/Intellectual Freedom

The WKU University Libraries supports the free exchange of ideas and endeavors to build collections which include all points of view. At the same time, it neither approves nor endorses the views expressed in materials included in the collections. Where there is controversy or disagreement concerning the truth of particular ideas and issues of belief, the University Libraries attempts to provide a wide selection of materials encompassing the major viewpoints.

WKU Libraries subscribes to and complies with the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics

Titles/materials for the collection are selected on the basis of overall content. No item is excluded on the basis of the author's race, nationality, or political or religious views. That some patrons may find an item objectionable on moral, religious, political or other grounds does not restrict or determine selection.

WKU Libraries does not immediately accede to requests of individuals or groups seeking the removal from the collection of materials which have been chosen according to the WKU Libraries Collection Development Policy
http://www.wku.edu/library/dlts/acquisition/collectiondevelopment.php
nor does it yield to requests to add to the collection materials if their addition would contradict the same collection development policy.

The Coordinator of Collection Services http://www.wku.edu/library/dlts/staff/jack_montgomery
works with the library administration in determining a response to challenged materials. Individuals or groups desiring further dialogue or action are asked to fill out a form for consideration. The form is available from the Office of the Dean of Libraries, Cravens 101.

Revised by Jack Montgomery 2/26/14
Revised by Challenged Materials Study Group, 2/24/14
Revised by Donna Parker and Jack Montgomery 4/19/06 Reviewed by Donna Parker/Tim Mullins 4/12/06
Recommended by the Council of Library Department Heads 1/30/06
Revised Policy Approved by the Library Leadership Council
Approved by the Library Leadership Council and Dean of Libraries, March 17, 2014

Mission  Statement

Many preservation  and  conservation  programs  have  their  origins  in  the  individual  treatment  of  special and  rare  materials;  however,  the  majority  of  Western  Kentucky  University  Libraries'  holdings  are  in  the general  circulating  collection.  The  sheer  size  and  diversity  of  materials  in  the  general  collections  of University  Libraries,  present  us,  as  collection  managers,  with  a  wide  array  of  issues  and  values  that must  be  brought  together  into  a  meaningful  plan  of  action,  e.g.,  different  types  of  material  formats,  use patterns,  retention  criteria,  and  collection  value.

While  the  traditional  item-by-item  selection  and  conservation  strategies  and  various  treatment  options have  been  and  still  are  effective,  they  are  not  alone  capable  of  providing  for  a  systematic  management for  our  library’s  conservation  program.  The  overall  goal  is  the  preventive  maintenance  of  our investment  as  an  institution  through  systematic  repair  and  physical  maintenance  of  our  collection.  In this  particular  process  we  are  focused  upon  the  physical  condition  and  not  the  content  of  the  material.

At  University  Libraries,  we  have  decided  to  take  a  pro-active  as  well  as  responsive  approach  to  this aspect  of  collection  management.  This  process  has  also  become  more  integrated  with  other  library functions  and  units,  such  as  collection  development,  cataloging,  circulation,  where  important information  is  gathered  and/or  a  variety  of  preservation  options  can  be  incorporated  into  already existing  workflows.  Over  time,  the  result  of  our  work  will  also  be  a  careful  analysis  of  the  collections and  a  fuller  understanding  of  the  realities  of  the  collection  management/preservation  operation  by  using the  appropriate  management  information  to  determine  and  maintain  collection  value  and  utility. Collection  assessment  and  evaluation  must  be  an  ongoing  process  and  should  consist  of  individual analysis  projects,  as  well  as  group  actions.  The  Preservation  Review  program  and  priorities  should  be evaluated  and  possibly  revised  at  least  every  five  years.

Steps  in  the  Process:

Assessment

The  most  important  element  in  managing  collections  preservation  is  to  know  and  assess  the  collection. An  effective  needs  assessment  will  reveal  the  nature  and  scope  of  preservation  requirements,  help establish  priorities,  and  develop  a  reasonable  strategy  for  action  based  on  these  priorities  and  the institution's  ability  to  meet  them.

WKU Libraries  will  take  the  following  steps  and  involve  the  following  groups  involved  in  identifying the  materials  that  require  attention:

1. The  Circulation  Unit  will  access  the  condition  of  materials  as  they  are  checked  out  or  returned  to  the Circulation  desk  and  deliver  those  items  needing  repair  or  conservation  to  the  DLTS  book  repair  desk.
2. The  Acquisitions  Staff  and  their  student  assistants  will  systematically  perform  a  sight  review  of  the stacks,  looking  for  library  materials  in  need  of  repair.
3. Staff,  faculty,  and  patrons  are  encouraged  to  bring  materials  to  us  that  they  discover  damaged  and believe  in  need  of  repair  and/or  conservation.

For  each  book  received,  the  book  repair  staff  will  make  the  following  assessment  regarding  the physical  appearance  of  the  title.  There  are  three  possible  conditions:

1. Fair:  book  shows  normal  wear  and  tear  for  its  age;  is  still  in  very  usable  condition,  though  binding may  be  somewhat  loose,  cover  or  pages  moderately  soiled,  etc.
2. Poor:  book  is  still  holding  together  but  has  one  or  more  major  problems:  binding  very  loose, significant  number  of  pages  torn,  very  dirty  appearance,  significant  water  damage,  etc.
3. Unusable:  book  is  basically  in  shambles  and  the  condition  of  the  paper  prevents  rebinding.  These books  should  be  checked  for  possible  replacement.  The  item's  records  should  be  withdrawn  from TOPCAT by the  cataloging  staff  and  surplused  per  University  regulations.

We also  check  the  circulation  of  each  item  to  determine  if  a  replacement  should  be  sought  and purchased.

Setting  Priorities

Establishing  priorities  for  collections  repair  and  preservation  management  must  be  based  on recognizing  and  articulating  the  nature  of  preservation  needs,  capabilities  of  the  book repair/preservation  department,  institutional  objectives,  and  the  resources  available  to  our  patrons and/or  the  collection.  Our  priorities  are  as  follows:

1. All  materials  deemed  to  be  of  enduring  value  are  to  be  submitted  to  the  Acquisitions  staff  and students  for  general  collections  repair.  If  a  question  exists  regarding  the  repair,  the  Collection  Services Coordinator  should  be  consulted.  Repairs  can  include  protective  housing/boxing  or  commercial binding.
2. Items  deemed  unusable  should  be  reviewed  by  the  subject  Library  Liaison  or  the  Collection  Services Coordinator  to  determine  if  a  replacement  should  be  sought  or  if  the  title  should  be  withdrawn  and surplused  without  attempting  to  replace.  The  physical  availability  and  cost  of  replacement  must  figure into  this  decision  and  be  handled  on  a  case-by-case  basis.

Older  Materials  Review  Policy  and  Procedures

For  the  purpose  of  this  policy  “older  materials”  are  defined  as  printed  materials  seventy-five  years  or older.  These  materials  may  no  longer  be  important  in  the  active  collection  because  of  their  low  current use,  but  they  may  have  historical  and  research  value.  Such  materials  are  pulled  from  stacks  because they  are  fragile  or  deteriorating.  They  need  review  and  should  be  sent  to  the  appropriate  Catalog Librarian  who  will  consult  the  Kentucky  Library  Coordinator  upon  transfer  of  these  materials  to  the Kentucky  Library.  Items  wanted  by  the  Kentucky  Library  will  be  sent  to  that  library.  These  materials will  then  be  repaired  and  added  to  the  Kentucky  Library's  Special  Collections.  Items  not  wanted  by  the Kentucky  Library  will  either  be  withdrawn  or  kept,  based  on  evaluation  by  subject  reference  librarians in  Cravens  Library  or  the  Educational  Resources  Center.  Retained  items  will  be  repaired  by  the  student assistants  in  the  Acquisition  Unit.  Re-shelving  these  materials  will  complete  the  review  process.

Approved  by  the  Dean  of  University  Libraries , 5/05/2008 

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon!

Library  Special  Collections  Copy  Services &  Fees Updated  

04/11/2017

Materials  from  the  Kentucky Library  Research  Collections,  Manuscripts  &  Folklife  Archives  and WKU Archives  are  accessed  through  the  Harrison-Baird  Reading  Room  located  on the  second floor  of the  Kentucky Building.

The  Harrison-Baird  Reading  Room  is  equipped  with  microfilm  reader/printers  and  a  photocopy machine.    The  collection  policy prohibits  the  copying  of  restricted  material,  fragile  items,  or complete  collections.    Photocopies  may  be  obtained  for  standard  sized  pages  at  a  cost  of $.10 to  $.25  per  page.    Patrons  may  use  phones,  tablets, or  cameras  when  copying  materials  with the  exception of  photographs.    Standard  tabletop  scanners  and  hand-held  scanners  are prohibited.   It  is  the  researcher’s responsibility to  make  sure  that  collections  are  cited  properly.

All  photographs  in  the  Department  remain  the  property of  Library  Special  Collections.    All reproductions  are  sold  for  personal/reference  use  only,  and  may  not  be  displayed,  published  or broadcast  in  any  format  without  payment  of  appropriate  fees  as  noted  below  and  without permission  from  the  Department.    All  responsibility for  questions  of copyright  that  may  arise  in copying  and  in  use  of  the  copies  must  be  assumed  by the  user.

Scanning  Fees:

• Scan (300 dpi  or  less)  -  $5  each
• Scanning saved  to  CD  add  $1 + postage/handling  (many .jpg  scans  may  be  sent  via  email)

One-time  Publication  Fees:

• Non-commercial  use  -  $25
• Commercial  use  -  $100

Audio  Tape  Reproduction  Fees:

• Copying  to  a  cassette  tape  -  $10
• Digitizing  and  copying  to  a  CD  -  $10

Make  checks  or  money  orders  to  Library  Special  Collections.    Cash  and  interdepartmental orders  are  accepted.   Library  Special  Collections  does  not  accept  credit  card  or  online  payments.   Payment  should  be  sent  to  the  Department  at: