General Information on the Acquisition Process
The Library purchases books on the recommendation of faculty, librarians, and other members of the university community. Each year, the Library splits its monographs budget into two parts: one part is allocated to the different departments and programs at UNH; the other is managed by the Library.
The Approval Plan
The Library purchases books through an approval plan. Each week we receive newly published academic monographs from the Blackwell North America Company. The titles supplied are ones that meet a subject and publisher profile that we have developed to match our curriculum needs. This profile is constantly monitored and refined.
When the books are received, they are kept in the Collection Development Office for one week during which we decide which books the library will retain. In the online catalog, these books are listed as being 'under consideration', which means that the book can be added to the collection or sent back. Because the profile is so specific, we send back less than 5% of the books that we receive. Faculty are encouraged to look over and comment on the books that are under consideration. Come to Dimond Library, Room 131 and we will show you where they are.
Library Liaisons and Department Representatives
The partnership between the faculty and Library in acquiring books requires that information between departments and the Library flow easily. Each department designates a faculty member to represent their department to the Library; the Library, in turn, assigns a member of the library faculty to each department as that department's liaison with the Library . The department representative transmits book orders to the library and is the person to contact if you have any questions.
