Purchasing Strategies
The Library aims to be transparent in our policies, outlining a robust framework for our procedures for acquiring new materials and specialist resources to support research, learning, and teaching at the University.
Our Resource Requests Policy
Key and Wider Reading
Academic staff and students are able to request resources for the library via resource recommendation forms, which are submitted online to our Library staff. The default policy is to purchase an electronic copy or copies if available.
Academic staff can indicate on their resource recommendation form if a requested resource is required for learning and teaching. The form will ask them to specify whether the resource is intended as key or wider reading for their students.
Alternatively, academic staff may also submit requests for new reading list content via our reading list platform, Leganto. More information about adding material to reading lists can be found on the Learning and Teaching webpages.
For wider reading titles, either the cheapest available ebook or one print copy will be purchased. Ebook purchasing is primarily based on the Patron Driven Acquisition (PDA) model. Initially the library will purchase a one copy of a requested ebook. The number of copies we hold for an ebook will then increase automatically in line with its usage by our patrons. Where a print copy of a key text must be purchased, 1 print copy per 10 students will be bought and more copies acquired if the item is heavily requested.
More information about the processes in place for requesting resources for the Library is available on our student and staff webpages for registered members of the University.
More information about Requesting Resources for the Library (Login required)
Major Purchase Requests
In order to request the strategic purchase or trial of a resource (such as a database), academics should contact their Faculty Engagement Librarian. When contacting the Librarian for their subject, academics should provide the details of the requested resource and whether it is needed for learning, teaching, or personal research, along with any other relevant information.
Our Library Eservices team will then work closely with the Faculty Engagement Team (FET) to request quotes for institutional access or a resource trial if required. If FET considers the cost of the resource to be too high, a trial will not be approved.
The method of access/authentication offered by the supplier must also meet our standards in order for a request to be approved.
Trials will only be approved if the resource is considered to be a potential acquisition/subscription within the current academic year. Please note that we will not set up new trials for resources that have already been trialled within the past year.
Once acquired, our Eservices team will set up and test access to the resource, including remote access if applicable (please note that some suppliers do not allow remote access for trials). A link to the resource will then be added to our Database A-Z list, marked with a ‘Trial’ tag.
The ‘share’ icon will appear next to a resource we are trialling in the Database list; this can be used to share the resource.
Suppliers usually provide usage data at the end of resource trials. Along with feedback obtained by the Library, this data will be used to help inform decisions made regarding the permanent addition of the resource to our collection.
Subscription Renewals Policy
The majority of the Library’s access to paywalled academic journals is obtained through ‘big deals’. Increasingly, these deals are taking the form of Transformative Agreements. The process that guides our approach to joining transformative agreements is overseen by the University Open Research Advisory Group (ORAG).
In addition, the Library has over 1000 individual subscriptions which must be maintained and renewed each year. The current policy of the Library is default renewal. However, cancellations will be considered in the following circumstances:
- Where price rises are unacceptable (typically above inflation)
- Where usage of an item is very low, or where a very high price is charged for each use
- Where there have been significant and persistent service problems
- Where a publisher does not align with the principles of the Comprehensive Content Strategy
All subscription cancellations will be discussed with departments first.
Donations Policy
The Library does not actively seek donations of printed material. The Library’s Content Strategy outlines how the Library provides access to the content required for teaching and research at the University. The assumption is that, wherever possible, content will be provided digitally. With that in mind, the Library will only accept donations of printed material that meet its specific criteria.
More information about the criteria required for donation can be found on the Donations webpage.