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Collecting Profile - General Reference
To be read in conjunction with the overarching principles and the general principles for reference material.
Coverage
General reference collecting principles apply. Specific clarification for some parts of our general reference collection follow.
- Secondary and tertiary level textbooks are only acquired where they are key reference sources in a subject or the best source of information about a subject.
- Selective access to current travel guides is provided where it complements resources in public library loan collections
- Access is provided to newspapers and maps, with the priority order being:
- Australia
- countries in close proximity to Australia
- countries significantly represented in the population of Western Australia
- English speaking countries which have a significant impact on Western Australia
- International standards are not actively collected. Existing collections will be rationalised, however access to current Australian standards will be provided.
- Workshop manuals are not actively collected, however this collection may be developed through transfer of manuals no longer required in the public library collection.
- Access to classic literary and dramatic works is provided with an emphasis on Australia but including major international writers. A sample of works by major contemporary creators in Australia and major international prize winners will be collected.
- The direct loan collection of plays, play set and scripts will be maintained with minimal development. Selective collecting will occur of award winning play sets from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Britain and America for small to medium cast sizes. Audition pieces will not be collected.
- Selective access to biographies is provided.
Page last updated: Tuesday 23 November 2010
