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The Mesa Community College Libraries is committed to providing resources that meet the informational, educational, and cultural needs of our community. Our philosophy centers on ensuring access to a strong core collection and extending that access through collaboration with MCCCD Libraries, Arizona consortia, and national and international online resources.
The MCC Libraries Collection Development policies align with MCCCD's Academic Freedom statements and policies, the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement, Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to View, and Right to Privacy, as well as the American Association of University Professors Statement on Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure, Universal Declaration on Human Rights Articles 12 and 19, and the US Constitution.
The Collection Development Team oversees acquisitions in alignment with the resource needs of the college, which include:
- Supporting curriculum and instruction
- Providing general information
- Encouraging professional growth
- Promoting cultural enrichment
- Supporting co-curricular interests
To suggest a title for the MCC Libraries collection, please complete the online Library Materials Order Form. The purchase of any requested title will be considered in accordance with the MCC Collection Development Policy and funding availability.
Purpose top
The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is to guide the selection of materials and equipment and to inform the public about the principles upon which these selections are made.
Intellectual Property/Copyright top
The libraries comply with the Copyright Law of the United States. Library services including reserve materials procedures, interlibrary loan, photocopying, and acquisition procedures, must comply with the U.S. copyright principles.
Responsibility for Acquisitions top
Selection responsibility and accountability ultimately rests with the Residential Library Faculty. Anyone within the user community may recommend purchase of library materials. The MCC Libraries reserves the right to make all final decisions on purchases.
Selection Criteria top
Selection criteria ensure that the library provides high-quality, relevant, and accessible materials that support the teaching, learning, and research needs of the college community. These criteria guide the selection and maintenance of physical and electronic resources.
General Selection Principles
- Relevance to Curriculum
- Materials must support current courses, academic programs, and institutional learning outcomes.
- Priority is given to resources that align with accreditation requirements and faculty instructional needs.
- Authority and Credibility
- Works should be authored, published, or produced by recognized experts, reputable publishers, or credible organizations.
- Currency and Accuracy
- Resources should reflect current knowledge, standards, and practices in the field.
- Exceptions are made for historical works or items of enduring scholarly value.
- Representation and Perspectives
- The collection should represent voices, perspectives, and experiences of our students and community.
- Materials should support the demographics of the student body.
- Format and Accessibility
- Resources should be available in formats that are accessible to all students, including digital and print as appropriate.
- Accessibility standards (e.g., ADA compliance for electronic resources) will be considered in purchasing decisions.
9/2025
Assessment and Maintenance top
Collection assessment ensures the library’s holdings remain relevant and effective through regular evaluation, informed selection, and ongoing maintenance, including de-selection, preservation, and subscription review.
Deselection top
Deselection is an essential part of maintaining a current and academically relevant library collection. It ensures quality by removing outdated, inaccurate, or worn materials. Librarians lead the ongoing deselection process, consulting faculty as needed for subject-specific decisions. Withdrawn items are disposed of in accordance with MCCCD policy.
The MCC Library follows the MUSTIE criteria, a widely used framework for evaluating whether materials should be withdrawn:
- M = Misleading (outdated or inaccurate information)
- U = Ugly (worn, damaged, or in poor physical condition)
- S = Superseded (a newer, better edition or resource is available)
- T = Trivial (no lasting literary, scientific, or cultural value)
- I = Irrelevant (does not fit the library’s mission, community needs, or curriculum)
- E = Elsewhere (can be easily obtained through interlibrary loan or online resources)
9/2025
Gifts top
The MCC Libraries welcome donations of books and other materials that align with our collection development acquisitions guidelines . To donate, email a list of items (title, author, publication date) to [email protected]. Please do not bring items to the library directly. While we cannot provide appraisals, we can send an acknowledgment letter. Memorials and financial donations are also appreciated.
Questioned Materials top
The MCC Libraries selects and withdraws materials—including digital and physical resources, purchased or subscribed content, selected OERs, and curated learning objects—based on established Collection Development criteria. Questioned materials and requests for removal by individuals or groups will be considered through the following process:
Submit a written concern to the Library Department Chair including:
- Your name and contact information;
- Title, author, publisher, URL or DOI and location of the material;
- A rationale explaining how the material fails to meet MCC Libraries’ Collection Development policies, citing specific pages or sections as necessary.
The Library Department Chair will review the concern in consultation with the Collection Development Librarian and Team. Within 45 days of submitting a written concern, a written response will be provided detailing next steps, which may include:
- A request to meet or provide additional information;
- A final decision with rationale.
Upon completion of the internal review process, the MCC Libraries’ decision shall be considered final. If a concern remains unresolved, the matter will proceed through the Conflict Resolution process described in the Maricopa Community Colleges Curriculum Handbook.
11/2025
Policy Review top
Collection Development policies were approved by Residential Library Faculty in Fall 2025. They will be reviewed periodically to reflect the evolving information needs of Mesa Community College, new electronic resources, and emerging technologies.