SHASTA COLLEGE LIBRARY 11555 Old Oregon Trail  *  PO Box 496006  *   Redding, CA 96049-6006

It is the general policy of the Library not to use library funds to purchase currently required textbooks. Exceptions may be made if the textbook is a “classic” in the field, or if the usefulness of the information will outlive the current course offerings. This determination will be made by the Collection Development Librarian. The rationale for the above policy is explained in the Board-approved selection policy, which states that our primary goal is to enrich the curriculum. Therefore, our materials should augment and supplement your teaching, not provide the primary curriculum materials. Additional points to consider include:

• Having a required textbook implies heavy emphasis on it in the course assignments. The student who relies on a library copy that may or may not be available may have problems staying abreast of those assignments.

• Textbooks fill a special need in the classroom, but are often neither the best reference source for the information, nor the most readable. In particular, workbook-type materials create special problems for a library collection.

• It is not economically feasible to buy even a modest proportion of the many required textbooks out of our limited funds. Textbooks are changed frequently; it would take a disproportionate amount of our discretionary budget to keep up-to-date.

Instructors are encouraged to place a review copy or an extra copy of their textbooks on reserve if they wish. Personal copies of these textbooks can be returned to the instructor when the class is completed, or you may donate the material to our library collection.
 

Janet Albright, Learning Resources Director  & Collection Development Librarian

Phone:  (530) 242-7555

Email:  jalbright@shastacollege.edu