This page collects links to policy documents regarding the development of collections in an environment increasingly marked by the challenge of electronic resources. It does not pretend to be comprehensive, and the author of this page welcomes suggestions of additional useful documents for inclusion here.

Acqweb's Library and Information Science Resources
Collection Development Sites
: A list of sites providing tools, reference materials, and other documents on collection development.
Association of Research Libraries
Licensing Electronic Resources. Strategic and Practical Considerations
for Signing Electronic Information Delivery Agreements
Prepared by Patricia Brennan, Karen Hersey, and Georgia Harper
Washington, DC, ARL, January 1997
: Reviews strategic and practical considerations to be considered before signing licensing agreements.
Boston University Law Library
Electronic Resources Selection Policy
(Draft of March 26, 1998): Discusses the selection and maintenance of material in electronic formats including electronic full-text sources (including online journals), electronic indexes, Internet tools, CD's and software.
Bowling Green State University Libraries
Collection Development Policy. Electronic, Audio-visual, and Multimedia Materials (September 5, 1998)
: Provides brief selection guidelines for electronic databases and electronic journals.
Brandeis University Libraries
Criteria for Selecting Electronic Resources (Revised May 15, 2001)
: A succint, eighteen-point set of selection criteria. Sections are on basic guidelines, format, and vendor and licensing.

Electronic Resources Group (ERG) Mission Statement
(Revised May 15, 2001)
: "The Electronic Resources Group administers the process of selecting, acquiring, licensing, announcing, and evaluating all electronic resources (whether purchased or free) offered by the Brandeis University Libraries to its patrons within the parameters of the Libraries' collection development policies and budget." The primary areas of responsibility of the ERG are acquisition, communication, and evaluation.
Brigham Young University
Machine Readable Data Files: Collection Development Policy Statement
: "This policy has been created by the Personal Computer Committee (PCC). It is aimed at providing guidance to BYU's subject selectors in acquiring machine readable data files (MRDFs) for the BYU collections, whether by purchase, gift, lease, network, deposited, or other cooperative arrangements."
Brown University
Developing and Managing the Brown University Library Collections (Updated 30 January, 2001) For the section on development of electronic collections, look below the heading "Selection Criteria: Specific Formats" for section c, "Electronic Resouces."
: This is a brief listing of issues for library selectors to consider in the selection of electronic resources.
California State University
Electronic Access to Information Resources Committee
(Updated January 2002)
: The EAR Committee was formed in 1990 to explore ways in which the resources of the CSU libraries could be maximized through shared acquisition of databases and information. The documents on this site are provided as a guide to the libraries of the California State University in developing and reviewing proposals and in negotiating contracts with providers of information in electronic formats. Many of the issues in the emerging electronic age will require discussion, experimentation, and collaboration on an on-going basis.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona
Collection Development Policy. Electronic Resources
(Rev. October 14, 1999)
: "The Collection Development Policy for Electronic Resources provides guidelines for the selection and provision of information in electronic formats and is intended to help bibliographers answer questions that may arise pertaining to electronic resources. This policy deals with the decision making process, factors governing selection decisions, information content considerations, the variety and appropriateness of various formats, and access issues."
Case Western Reserve University
Collection Management Policy for Electronic Journals
: This collection policy for electronic journals includes sections on scope of materials covered, access and location, general selection guidelines, compliance with established collection guidelines, selection responsibility and other selection considerations, funding, restrictions and requirements, licensing, duplicate formats, deselection, and submittal of requests for electronic journals.
Columbia University Libraries
Collection Development. Electronic Data Service
: This document describes Columbia University’s Electronic Data Service (EDS), a joint project of Columbia University libraries and the university’s Academic Information Systems. EDS was created to support research and instruction at Columbia that require the use of numeric data available only in machine readable form. Included are a set of general selection guidelines and a list of specific delimitations.
Collection Development. Electronic Text Service
: The Electronic Text Service (ETS) is devoted exclusively to the collection and use of full-text materials in electronic (i.e., machine-readable) format focusing on the humanities and history. ETS’s emphasis is on the acquisition and delivery of full-text resources designed for research and analysis. Included are a set of general selection guidelines and a list of specific delimitations.
(Both updated May 1, 2001)
CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation)
Committee on Institutional Cooperation Agreement Tracking Web Site
(March 1, 2001)
: "This draft web site has been designed to facilitate the tracking of consortial agreements being addressed by the CIC Center for Library Initiatives. It will serve as a central repository for information regarding the status of pending and existing agreements and will be accessible to all CIC libraries. At this point its use as a request and/or polling mechanism for potential agreements is being considered." Also contains guidelines for consortial acquistion of electronic resources and standardized agreement language.
Cornell University
Cornell University Library Digital Futures Plan, July 2000 to June 2002

"Over the next two years, Cornell University Library (CUL) will position itself for the introductory decade of the 21st century. In an age characterized by burgeoning digital technology, CUL will provide its faculty, students, and staff with expanded access to an increasingly rich array of electronic information resources. The result will be a superior library service offering a knowledge base suited to supporting the mission of a world-class university. To achieve this goal, the library has designed an ambitious strategic plan." An admirable and thorough vision and planning document is presented here.
Christian Brothers University
Electronic Resources Selection Policy
(November 11, 1999)
: This brief policy outlines general measures for evaluating databases considered for library purchase. Areas covered include projected use by library patrons, cost, database quality, degree of user-friendliness, technical considerations, and ease of communication with vendors.
Dartmouth College
Collection Development Policy. Information in Electronic Format
(Updated January 28, 1999)
: The purpose of this policy is to outline the decision-making process, factors influencing the selection decision, the range of available formats and access options in Dartmouth's information environment. This policy is a response to the growing need among bibliographers for guidelines to assist them in answering questions raised in selecting, processing and making accessible information in electronic format. This is a format-related guide intended as a collection management resource for bibliographers. It describes the subject's scope, Dartmouth's information environment, the types of electronic information considered. Finally, it presents a detailed outline of considerations in the decision-making process.
Emory University General Libraries
Collection Development Policy: Electronic Formats
: A brief set of considerations in determining the suitability and appropriateness of materials in electronic format for acquisition. Purchase requests are reviewed by a library committee headed by the Director of Collection Management.
Gonzaga University Library
Electronic Resources
: A set of parameters for collection of electronic resources. Sections in this document address definition of electronic resources; selection procedures; general and specific selection criteria; responsibility for implementation; networking, duplicate copies and copies in multiple formats; replacements; gifts; preservation; deselection; and policy review.
Harvard University Library
DigAcq Web: A Digital Acquisitions Resource for Harvard Librarians
: DigAcq Web is a service of the Library Digital Initiative. Policies and procedures for digital acquisitions are developed in association with the University Library Council Digital Acquisitions Committee. Send comments and questions to Ivy Anderson, Coordinator for Digital Acquisitions, Office for Information Systems, Harvard University Library.
Illinois Library Computer Systems Organization (ILCSO)
ILCSO Electronic Resources Committee Collection Development Policy
(November 6, 1998)
: ILCSO libraries vary considerably in size and academic programs they support. Each ILCSO library assembles a collection of electronic information resources that best meets the needs of its constituencies within its institution's financial constraints. ILCSO libraries' electronic collections include resources funded by the state (e.g., FirstSearch), resources funded by ILCSO for member libraries (i.e., ERIC), resources offered by ILCSO on a subscription basis to its member libraries, institution-funded resources, and resources offered through or funded by consortia other than ILCSO. Because of the variety in institutions, their consortial relationships, and the resulting varying sets of resources each offers, the ILCSO Electronic Resources Committee (ERC) collection development initiatives focus on selecting electronic resources that meet the articulated high-priority needs of its members. In selecting the subscription options it offers members, the ILCSO Electronic Resources Committee coordinates its activities with the State Library, the Illinois Cooperative Collection Management Program, and other consortia whenever possible. ILCSO libraries can expect to obtain favorable pricing on these high-priority databases and to be assured of reliable access through ILCSO/AISS, as well as continuity in database offerings from year to year.
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (UK)
Collection Development Policy. Electronic Library Resources
(March 11, 1999)
: "The policy is to move towards networked electronic resources wherever this is practicable. This includes supplementing the existing printed materials with electronic versions for loan, use in the library or via the network. Subscriptions to journals will as far as possible be to the electronic form with a CD-ROM or printed archive maintained for important titles."
Indiana University, Bloomington
Acquistions, Cataloging, and Collection Development Policies for Electronic Resources
(May 4, 2000)
Library of Congress
Collection Policy Statements for Electronic Resources
(June 1999)
: Including scope, criteria, specific guidelines, and retention statement.
Loras College
Collection Development Policy for Electronic Information Resources (Reference)
(September 10, 2001)
: This document provides guidelines for the selection, acquisition, access to and maintenance of electronic resources. These guidelines do not apply to the selection of electronic periodicals and journals.
Louisiana Public Libraries
Public Library Policies
: Twenty-four (as of October 2, 1999) Louisiana Public Libraries have made their Internet and/or electronic resources policies available to the State Library for posting on this web site.
Louisiana State University
Criteria and Guidelines for Acquiring and Providing Access to Electronic Resources
(Revised June 7, 2000)
: "This policy provides criteria and guidelines for acquiring and providing access to electronic titles. The purpose of acquiring these resources is the same as that for more traditional library resources: to support the teaching, research and service missions of the University." The LSU policy contains a detailed section on delivery mechanisms and three evaluation checklists: a selection criteria checklist, a financial/status summary, and a delivery mechanism checklist.
McMaster University Libraries
General Policies. Electronic Resources
(September 2001)
: "The Library will give first priority to collecting those electronic products that will have a demonstrable impact on McMaster's credibility as a leading educational research institution. It follows that those electronic products will be collected that support the subject areas and disciplines where the University maintains graduate level research... or where other academic strength has been identified as, for example, in the creation of a 'Centre of Excellence' or a major educational programme."
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cataloging documentation for serials
: Some procedures for entering and ordering new resources.
Toward a Networked Resources Policy
: This document aims to articulate MIT's commitment to delivering electronic resources that support the University's programs and users. The Library identifies the realities and constraints of provision of e-resources.
Mount Saint Vincent University
Collections Development Policy Manual. Electronic Resources
(Revised February 5, 1998)
: A set of policies and selection criteria for software, CD-ROMs, on-line databases, Internet sites, and machine readable datafiles.
National Agricultural Library
Electronic Resources Selection Policy
(February 15, 2000)
: "This policy supplements the Collection Development Policy of the National Agricultural Library. It is shaped by the National Agricultural Library's dual responsibility as a national library and as USDA's departmental library…. NAL will provide access to electronic resources in subjects it collects, with special emphasis on electronic resources published by USDA."
National Library of Australia
Selection Committee on Online Australian Publications (SCOAP).
Working documents for the National Library
(December 7, 1999)
: These guidelines have been developed under the first of four main initiatives taken by the National Library during 1996 in relation to managing long term access to online Australian publications.
Northern Illinois University
Electronic Formats Collection Development Policy
(November 12, 1996)
: "This policy is intended to set forth protocol for the selection and acquisition of electronic resources, here defined as all electronic serial publications (with or without paper equivalents), all monographic electronic resources more than $500 in price, and all publicly accessible electronic resources acquired for trial. Electronic resources costing less than $500 will be assigned to the appropriate subject-specific budget line, in consultation with the Library Systems office and the subject specialist for the discipline involved."
Northwestern University Library
Collection Development Policy Statement. Electronic Texts. Note: this document is a PDF file. (March 25, 1999)
: A brief policy statement on collection of full-text electronic texts for literary or linguistic research.
Oberlin College Library
Guidelines for Collecting Computer Software (December 2, 1988)
: This set of selection guidelines addresses selection criteria, cataloging, location, circulation and user responsibility, budget, licensing and copyright, security, and interlibrary loan.

Collection Development Philosophy (Revised August 23, 2001)
: The section within this document that addresses electronic resources states: "The library's basic approach has been to substitute electronic for print version only in instances where the electronic format provides equivalent or superior access to the print version."
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
Electronic Resources Selection Policy Statement (Revised September 2000)
: This policy for Ohio's public libraries provides selection criteria and evaluation guidelines for several kinds of resources: OPLIN-licensed (both annual and perpetual) commercial, fee-based services and databases; OPLIN-selected external, freely linkable World Wide Web resources and other freely available services and databases; and OPLIN-developed resources created by OPLIN or OPLIN member libraries, or through contractors.
Ohio State University: Prior Health Sciences Library
Collection Development Policy: Electronic Resources
(December, 1999)
: This document presents the collection development policy for all collections at the Prior Health Sciences Library. The section dealing with electronic resources comprises the last section of this document.
Old Dominion University
Guidelines, Policies and Procedures for Managing Electronic Resources
(Updated October 21, 1998)
: This extensive site contains a number of documents for managing electronic resources at Old Dominion University library. These include documents on general principles and policies, a checklist for selecting electronic resources, a list of criteria for evaluating license, guidelines for selecting electronic resources, and a detailed set of procedures for selecting electronic resources at this university library.
Pennsylvania State University
Adding Electronic Resources
(Updated March 2, 2001)

This document includes the following sections: General Licensing, Licensing Resources, Copyright Resources, IP Addresses & Penn State, and How to Add Electronic Resources.
Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) of the American Library Association
Guidelines for the Introduction of Electronic Information Resources to Users
(June 1997)
: These guidelines were prepared by the Management Committee of the Machine-Assisted Reference Section, Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association. The guidelines address planning, policy, and procedure; staff education; user education/ instruction; publicity; and assessment and evaluation.
Rice University
Collection Development. Fulltext Online Resources
(Modified October 12, 2001)
: A concise policy for collection and support of fulltext electronic resources.
Tufts University
Policy on Licensing of Electronic Content Resources
(Draft of October 5, 1998)
: This document defines electronic content resources for the purposes of Tufts University, then outlines the resource review process, the licensing process, and an implementation plan. The policy is applicable only for resources whose annual licensing fees exceed $5000. Librarians provide a licensing consulting service to other university units considering licensing resources whose annual fees reach or exceed this level.
University at Albany. State University of New York
Electronic Media Management of Electronic Access Databases Group (MEAD)
(November 1997)
: A fairly brief policy that lists the types of electronic materials covered and list of general selection criteria.
University at Buffalo. State University of New York
Electronic Journals in the UB Catalog and on the Libraries' Web Site: General Statement of Policy
(April 26, 2000)
: Outlines policy for selection, acquisition, cataloguing and access for electronic journals.
University of Arizona
Library Policy for Selecting and Acquiring Electronic Products
(Revised May 30, 2000)
: This in-depth policy deals with a wide range of issues in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of electronic resources. The introduction instructs librarians to be both alert and creative in making acquisition decisions and to be proactive in evaluating changes in electronic media environment. The policy stresses a preference for remote access (especially via the Internet) of resources over ownership as long as remote access does not compromise the maintenance of archival copies. Selection criteria address customer needs, cost, product quality, and service and technical concerns. The policy also addresses product review, training to use products, and marketing of electronic products to library users. Appendices deal with copyright, lease and purchase agreements, and licensing.

Guidelines for Licensing Electronic Information Resources (May 1999)
: This document supplements the above policy on selection and aquisition of electronic resources. It is intended to guide librarians in “developing and reviewing proposals and in negotiating contracts or licenses with publishers or vendors of information resources in electronic formats.”
University of Arizona Health Sciences Library
Collection Development Policy for Electronic Resources
(September 24, 1998)
: This well-constructed policy begins by stating clearly that “[w]hen possible, the Library will give priority to the acquisition of electronic resources that offer significant added-value such as uniqueness of information, ease of use, wider accessibility, timely updates and cost-effectiveness.” The policy addresses format and access, and it provides a list of selection criteria. Other policy sections address multiple formats and copies, licensing, and responsibility and library departmental coordination.
University of Aukland
Collection Development Policy. Electronic Resources
(July 17, 2001)
: This policy addresses the issues of scope, access, selection criteria, and duplication for each of three resource types: electronic journals, electronic books, and other electronic resources.
University of California Libraries. Collection Development Committee.
Principles for Acquiring and Licensing Information in Digital Formats
(May 22, 1996)
: This list of principles is provided to guide the University and its employees (at both campus and systemwide levels) in developing and reviewing proposals to/from, and in negotiating contracts with, providers of information in digital formats. UC librarians recognize that many of the issues addressed in this document are not yet fully defined or understood in the emerging digital age. Accordingly, UC offers this position as a starting point in a process that will require much discussion, experimentation and collaboration before it is complete.
University of California, Berkeley: Digital Library
Digital Library SunSITE Collection and Preservation Policy
(May 1, 1996)
: "The Berkeley Digital Library SunSITE collects at the research level in the areas of digital library development and information technology. In other subject areas, the resources and projects we select are reviewed by the appropriate selector for that discipline and gauged against our existing collecting levels for print publications in that area." The Digital Library SunSITE has four levels of collecting, as listed below. Each level has its own review criteria for assignment of that level to a given resource; these criteria can be viewed on the linked page for each given collecting level.
Archived. "The material is hosted here, and The Library intends to keep the intellectual content of the material available on a permanent basis." Served. "The material resides here, but The Library has not (yet) made the level of commitment to keeping it available that it has for "archived" materials." Mirrored. "A copy of material residing elsewhere is hosted here, and The Library makes no commitment to archiving. Also, an institution other than The Library has primary responsibility for the content and its maintenance." Linked. "The material is hosted elsewhere and The Library points to it at that location. Therefore the Library has no control over the information."
University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries
Electronic Collection Policy
(Updated February 08, 2000)
: This document explains that electronic resources acquired in general must not duplicate holdings of the Florida Center for Library Automation (FCLA) of the Florida state university system. Web-based resources are preferred over other media; stand-alone CD-ROMs will not be collected, except when they are accompanying discs to print resources. The policy also addresses selection responsibility, evaluation criteria for selection, licensing, collection access, policy and guidelines review, and specific guidelines for electronic full-text journals.
University of Hartford
Electronic Resources. Collection Development Policy
(Modified September 19, 2001)
: This rather concise document addresses collection development policy, support for electronic resources, and library acquisition and processing procedures.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Office of Collections. Tangible Electronic Publications Policy
(Updated October 25, 2000)
University of Iowa Libraries
Policy for Electronic Resources Management
(Revised June 1996)
: This "Policy for Electronic Resources Management" provides context and guidelines for the University Libraries in the selection, acquisition, provision of access to, and maintenance of electronic resources. It does not address specific procedural issues such as where a particular resource will be located or funding options. These are discussed in related University Libraries documents such as the "Information Arcade Selection Criteria" document produced by the Database Task Force and the "Expensive Purchase Recommendation" guidelines.
University of Maryland Libraries
Collection Development Policy Statement: Guidelines for Selection of Electronic Publications
(Revised March 30, 2001)
: This extensive policy statement consists of a number of separate Web pages, all accessed from this statement homepage. The introduction presents a summary of issues, a definition of the term "electronic publication," and an introduction to the selection guidelines. Guideline issues addressed are content, pricing, use and functionality, archiving, access, duplication and substitution, and licensing terms and conditions. Addition help is presented in the form of an evaluation checklist, contacts and FAQs, pages presenting special considerations for E-journals and E-books, and a page addressing approaches to financing E-publications.
University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library
Electronic Resources Collection Policy: "This policy describes in detail the Library's goal of providing access to digital information resources that will support the instructional, research, and clinical goals of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, including the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Social Work, the Graduate School, and the University of Maryland Medical Center." The types of resources applicable to this policy are e-books, aggregated resources, CD-ROMs and diskettes (both acquired only if they can be networked), databases, and Web sites. Selection criteria addressed are content, functionality, licensing issues, archiving, publisher/vendor services, technical requirements, and training issues. Also addressed are retention and renewal, responsibility and library departmental coordination, and implementation and review.
University of Melbourne
Electronic Collection Policy. Note: this document is a PDF file.
(Draft of March 28, 1999)
: This document begins by stating that the University of Melbourne Library "is moving towards electronic access, away from the earlier model of physical availability of resources." The policy procedes to address resource selection, budgeting, technological concerns (the Library is currently shifting from an emphasis on CD-ROM platforms to Web-based delivery), staff and user training, licenses, authentication, cataloging, metadata, use of a Web spider for keeping resources current, relegation (review and assessment), preservation, and archiving.
University of Michigan Library
Checklist for Acquisition of E-Resources
: This checklist addresses the following: options for accessing content, communities of interest, license issues, funding issues, training issues, and access issues.
Electronic Resources Handbook (January 1997)
: This handbook is intended to be a "work in progress"-- that is, we'd like feedback about what information is needed, what frequency of update for various data would be useful, etc. It is intended that some aspects --e.g., the draft database of current electronic resources--may become online resources themselves, but input from the selector and collection manager communities is needed to inform these decisions.
University of Minnesota Law Library
Collection Development Policy for Electronic Resources (February 2001)
: This document presents collection development policy separately for Internet Resources (both free and subscription-based resources) and for materials on CD-ROMs. Policy sections for Internet Resources address resource selection, provision of access, and deselection). Sections for CD-ROM materials address networked and stand-alone access, selection of network and stand-alone CD-ROMs, duplication, provision of access, deselection, funding, licensing, and policy review.
University of New Orleans
Collection Development Policy. Electronic Resources
: This straightforward policy statement first presents an overview of the criteria on which depends the acquisition of electronic materials and addresses the issue of departmental allocation of funds for purchase of given materials. It then addresses selection criteria in greater detail, including user needs, subject coverage, duplication of resources, cost, ease of use, technical considerations, archiving, licensing, and evaluation.
University of North Carolina at Asheville
Electronic Resources. Collection Development Policy
(Revised March 1999)
: In this relatively concise policy, "electronic resources" are defined as resources accessed with the use of a computer. Addressed are selection criteria, methods of evaluation, selection procedure, patron access and use, and review of electronic resources.
University Libraries of Notre Dame
General Collection Development Policy
(January 29, 1996)
: Collection development policy for electronic resources in this library is addressed within a document outlining collection development policy for all library resources. Electronic resources are to be acquired within the regular selection process for materials in their respective fields. A collection development committee is responsible for approving purchase of e-resources. Link to e-resource section of the policy.
University of Oregon
Collection Development Public Policies
: Links to the following documents are available from this Web site:
: Collection Development Policy for Internet Resources; (Updated September 14, 2000); Includes sections on purpose, scope; access and location; general selection principles (including selection responsibility, funding, adherence to other collection development guidelines, specific format criteria, and selection tools); copyright; licensing; provision of access; duplication; deselection; and policy review.
: Collection Development Policy for Electronic Journals; (Updated April 30, 2000); Includes sections on purpose; scope; principal access point and provision of access; general selection principles (including selection responsibility, funding, adherence to other collection development guidelines, and specific format criteria); licensing; duplicates; and policy review.
: Collection Development Policy for Offline Electronic Resources; (Updated October 26, 2000); Includes sections on purpose; scope; location; electronic resources accompanying other formats; and general selection principles (including selection responsibility, funding, adherence to other collection development guidelines, specific format criteria, and selection tools); copyright; licensing; provision of access; gifts; replacements; conversion of outmoded offline electronic resources; duplicates; and policy review.
University of South Carolina
Collection Development of Internet Resources
(Updated 11 February, 2002)
: Guidelines for selection of Internet resources, including Web pages, listservs, usenet news, FTPs, gopher sites, and full-text editions of books, periodicals and government documents.
University of Southern California
Library Collections Policy Statement for Information in Electronic Formats
: "The purpose of this policy statement is to broadly describe the guidelines for the provision of information in electronic formats in the University Library, including the decision-making process, factors governing selection decisions, information content considerations, the variety and appropriateness of various formats, and the multiplicity of access mode issues."
University of Queensland
Collection Development Policy. "Electronic Resources" section
(April 12, 2001)
: Electronic collections policy for the University of Queensland Library is addressed within a Collection Development Policy for all library resources. Regarding electronic versions of paper journals, the library's policy is, all things being equal, to subscribe to both. "Free" electronic journals are to be selected with care. Additional paragraphs are included on licenses, access, duplication, usage, electronic books.
University of Sydney
Library Collections & Resources Policy. Electronic Journals Policy
(April 30, 1996)
: This document defines the library's policy and procedures for Internet-based electronic journals. All e-journals selected for access be given an OPAC record. The library accepts in principle the responsibility to archive and provide access to University of Sydney electronic journals. Except in specific circumstances, the library will not archive and index e-journals. A Policy on the Provision of Digitised Information for the University of Sydney Library is currently under review.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Electronic Resources Collection Development Policy (May 12, 1998) Issues described in this document include applicable formats, the decision-making process for resource aquisition, supporting hardware and software, the level of access and associated services, license agreements, consortial agreements, and implementation and support.
University of Texas at Austin
General Libraries Digital Library Collection Development Framework
(Updated March 1999)

This well-constructed policy statement begins with a categorization of digital library materials: purchased or licensed materials, reformatted (digitized) materials, and links and pointers to Internet resources. The document then presents a discussion of selection considerations, goals, and priorities. Perhaps the most interesting part of this document are the lists of goals, observations, and qualifications for various information formats: electronic journals, indexing and abstracting databases, full-text databases, primary resources, and online books. Similar lists are presented for the following related issues: digitization of local materials, alerting and profiling services, electronic document delivery and pay-per-view services, archiving of non-University of Texas Web sites, integration of print and electronic resources, and overall multiple user profiling and alerting capability.
General Libraries Electronic Journal Strategy (Updated August 2000) Describes the approach of the University Library regarding electronic journals as one of fiscally conservative experimentation and explains the reasons for this approach.
University of Virginia
Building the Library of Tomorrow
(November 15, 2000)
: Includes excellent sections about digital content selection, production, resource management, and associated processes.
University of Washington
Selection Guidelines for Internet Resource. IRC Collection Development Policy for Internet Resources Task Force
(October 21, 1999)

This document relates the selection and implementation of electronic resources directly to the mission of the University. It offers general and specific selection principles, and criteria that identify the successful e-resource (reliability, content, access). The document contains also an addendum called "Selector Checklist."
University of Wyoming
Collection Development Policy: Electronic Information Media
(Updated August 19, 1998)
: This selection policy applies both to purchased resources and to resources available free on the Internet. It includes a set of licensing principles.
Washington Research Library Consortium
Policy on Selection and Retention of WLRC Shared Data Bases (May 1994)
: This policy covers electronic databases that are purchased by the Library for use in the Library, for circulation to users, or for inclusion on the computer network. Selection decisions consider available Internet resources as well as databases available on campus and at area libraries. Emphasis is on broad-based or multidisciplinary materials of interest to a significant number of users. Individual departments may also purchase subject-specific databases with their library funds; guidelines for these purchases should be included in the departmental collection policies.
Wellesley College Library
Criteria For Selecting Electronic Resources
(Modified January 8, 2002)
: A concise set of selection guidelines. Of particular interest are a set of points discussing various format preferences.
Yale University
Managing Electronic Resources at Yale University (Draft)
: This site, currently under early development, is an aggregation of Yale University Library policies and procedures related to electronic resources. These documents have been created, variously, by: CoDGeR (the Committee on Digital General Resources), the Collections Development Council, the e-cataloging committee, the Medical Library, Kimberly Parker (Electronic Collections Librarian), and others. This page is a product of CoDGeR's deliberations and is maintained by its chair, Kimberly Parker (kimberly.parker@yale.edu)

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