1. About the Library collection
The Swinburne Sarawak Library collection comprises a blend of online and physical resources, carefully selected and acquired to support teaching, learning, and research across all disciplines at the university. The collection is continuously updated and expanded, incorporating the latest publications and diverse perspectives to encourage critical thinking, intellectual exploration, and lifelong learning.
Scholarly Resources and Acquisitions is the central unit that manages acquisition, licensing, and online access provision under the direction of the Manager, Information Resources.
2. Selection
Library resources are selected and approved based on a range of criteria, including:
- relevance of material to the teaching curriculum;
- research and work related;
- demonstrated or expected usage;
- needs of users/promote literacy reading;
- language and quality of materials contents;
- accuracy and objectivity;
- currency and timeliness of content;
- format and availability of resources;
- reputation or authoritativeness of the author/publisher;
- accreditation requirements;
- cost and licensing,
- space, and storage issues or technical requirements etc;
The Library focuses on selecting high-use resources that support teaching, learning, and research at Swinburne Sarawak, and with collaboration and innovation, the Library actively engages with faculties/schools, students, and researchers to enhance the collection.
3. Discovery and access
The Library collection is managed by the library management system, with access provided through Library Search. Access is also provided to Open Access resources, including subscriptions that provide open resources where available, as approved by the Library.
Library resources are acquired to maximise access. Where possible, online resources will be open to all Swinburne Sarawak users, and physical resources will be available in the general collection. Requests to limit use of online and/or physical resources must be approved by the Library.
The Library User Support and Outreach Team manages the business rules for the lending and use of resources with the aim of encouraging use.
4. Acquisition
- Placing your request
Request for library materials can be made by any of the methods below:
- completing the requisition form
- sending it by email to the relevant Library Liaison Officer
- Sending your request to Library Service Desk at [email protected]
Full details must be provided, including the title, author, and format (eBook, book, journal/magazine, etc.); publisher and publication date or edition; ISBN or ISSN; and name of the requester. Missing information may delay the order process.
If there are multiple editions, the latest will be acquired unless otherwise specified.
The Library’s priority is to maximize online access to content, aiming to deliver information resources to the widest possible audience. Online formats are preferred where they meet the information needs of users, subject to budget, licensing, and technical requirements. As a rule, the Library will not acquire physical resources where an online alternative is available. Only works in the languages taught at Swinburne will be acquired.
Approval from the Dean/Head of School/Head of Management Unit is required for recommendations by staff and students. Library user is to check the requested title on the library catalogue EDS Discovery search engine or online catalogue (OPAC) before placing their request to avoid duplicate acquisitions.
- Textbooks and class sets
The Library will acquire a limited number of textbooks and recommended readings, depending on selection criteria and pricing model. The Library does not acquire class sets or online resources that can only be used in a classroom environment.
- Lost and damaged resources
Materials that are lost or damaged will be replaced if they remain relevant to the collection. Replacements will prioritize obtaining the latest edition in an online format.
- Licensing
Copyright law and licenses are considered in the evaluation and selection of online and physical resources. As a rule, resources that have restrictive licensing terms impacting their usefulness will not be acquired.
5. Infrastructure
When evaluating and selecting online and physical resources for the library’s collection, consideration will be given to the available infrastructure and the intended purpose of the materials. For online resources, aspects such as software and hardware compatibility, authentication requirements, access restrictions, and intended usage will be assessed. For physical resources, this includes factors such as shelving, storage, booking, lending, and usage. Generally, resources with limitations that impede open and effective use will not be acquired.
6. Budgets
The Library manages the materials budget, with acquisition decisions guided by current and projected budgets, expenditures, and commitments. Its goal is to provide information resources that deliver maximum value and meet the needs of all users. However, due to financial constraints, it may not be possible to acquire or provide access to every requested resource.
Subscriptions or continuous orders commit the Library to ongoing expenditure in future years. Most subscriptions will be evaluated on an annual basis and require approval according to the financial delegation level. As a rule, new subscriptions will only be acquired upon approval and availability of budget allocation.
7. Works by Swinburne authors
Academic works from Swinburne Sarawak will be taken into consideration if they meet the standard selection criteria. Subscription resources that feature a large number of Swinburne authors will be considered, where they satisfy the general selection criteria, with the condition of budget allocation availability.
8. Final year projects and theses
As part of the guidelines, electronic copies of all final year projects and theses are deposited with the Library, accessible exclusively to the Swinburne community through Canvas. Only projects and theses awarded High Distinction (HD) or Distinction (D) will be selected for upload to the repository.
9. Donations
Donations of resources to the library will be considered according to the usual selection criteria. If accepted, donations will become part of the general library collection and subject to normal business rules, including deselection.
10. Deselection
The Library manages the physical and online collections on an ongoing basis and deselects material that is no longer relevant, out of date, in poor physical condition, no longer conforms to technical or licensing requirements, does not demonstrate ongoing usage, or is being deselected to allow release of funds to acquire more relevant or cost-effective resources.
Generally, only the most recent editions of multiple-edition works will be retained in the collection. Upon requisition of newer editions, regardless of format, superseded editions will generally be removed from the collection. Exceptions to this practice, for example, where content differs between editions, must be authorised by the Library.
11. Exceptions
Proposals regarding the procurement of resources beyond the scope of this statement must be directed to the Manager, Information Resources, or via your Liaison Librarian.