The following policy and guidelines were reviewed and approved by the Faculty Library Committee in November, 1993. Contact Craig Jolly (cdjolly(at)sjc.edu), the senior acquisitions and archives librarian, for additional information.

• Curriculum-related serials are selected and maintained in order to provide current information and literature in all fields related to the curriculum of the College. In addition to these, it is the policy of the Library to maintain a collection of general interest periodicals, library professional journals, and serials that are provided for the extracurricular enjoyment of the college community.
• Subscriptions shall be maintained to the Santa Fe and Albuquerque newspapers and such national and international newspapers of record as the library can maintain within its budget.
• The serials collection should be evaluated annually. The selection guidelines will be used in evaluation.
• Subscriptions may be added and dropped at any time, but an effort should be made to make any additions and deletions before payment of the annual subscription vendor invoice in the summer.
• Responses to completed Periodicals Recommendation Forms will be made by the serials librarian within a month of receipt of the form. Further information will be requested if needed.
• A balance will be sought between the information needs expressed by individuals or a few and the greater college community. It is understood that the information provided by serials subscriptions is intended for the use of all library users and that the library cannot accommodate all individual or small group requests.
• Gift subscriptions will be evaluated for inclusion in the collection by the same guidelines as those for paid subscriptions.
• Sample issues will be examined whenever possible for consideration of new subscriptions.

Guidelines and Factors to Consider for Selection of Curriculum-Related Serials

• Correlation with and support of the college curriculum, programs of study, and changes therein will be the first consideration in the selection of curriculum-related serials.
• Availability of indexing in periodical indexes available in the library or online.
• Potential for usage by a significant number of students and faculty. Projected usage by at least ten percent of the college community is desirable.
• Reputation for excellence and objectivity. Seek recommendations in review sources such as Magazines for Libraries and Choice.
• Current price in relation to total serials budget, other serials in the collection in the same subject area, and projected cost of maintaining the subscription.
• Current availability of serials in the same or similar subject area in the collection.
• Availability at other libraries in the area, including NMSL, SFPL, UNM, CSF, and NMHU.
• Availability of table of contents in online databases may be considered as an alternative means of access.
• Storage space needed for back issues.
• Usage of back issues (for cancellation decisions).

Guidelines and Factors to Consider in Selection of Extracurricular Serials

• Potential for usage by a significant number of students and faculty. Projected usage by at least ten percent of the college community is desirable.
• Provides information currently unavailable in the collection. Existing coverage of the subject area in serials collection should be examined.
• Current price in relation to total serials budget and projected cost of maintaining the subscription.
• Availability of indexing in periodical indexes available in the library and online.
• Reputation for excellence and objectivity in coverage of subject area. Seek recommendations in review sources such as Magazines for Libraries and Choice.
• Intended audience is adult or college level.
• Availability at other libraries in the area.
• Storage space needed for back issues.