Criteria for recommendation | Collection Development | Recommendation for purchase
Books | Media | Periodicals | Databases

Criteria for recommendation

Would you like to recommend books, media, periodicals or magazine titles for the Library's purchase?

If a title is not available in the Library, we are always pleased to consider suggestions for purchase as long as it falls within the scope of the Library's Collection.

The criteria for recommendation are as follows:

1. Relevant to NP's curriculum
2. Supports technology development needs
3. Of potential interest to students/staff, eg. career guidance
4. Supports general leisure reading, social, recreational or lifestyle interests. The following are the Lifestyle Collection clusters:
   
   

   Hobbies	Food & Beverages	Fiction/Novel
   Home & Family	Entertainment	Science & Technology
   Travel	Lifeskills	Humour
   Sports	Creativity & Innovation	Comics
   Business & Management	True Stories	Biography

Collection Development

As subject specialists, lecturers are responsible for collection development of resources in their own modules.

Books
Librarians support collection development of titles for the Library's Collection by working with lecturers through the following approaches:
1	Route relevant titles they have identified through publishers' alerts/catalogues to lecturers for endorsement of purchase.
2	Route listings of titles on specific topics through email to relevant lecturers for consideration of purchase.
3	Schedule trips to publishers' warehouses. Library will make arrangements for lecturers to visit the publisher's warehouse for selection of titles to support their teaching needs. They may also select titles for the Lifestyle Library. This approach enables staff to physically browse the contents to determine the scope, relevance and level of treatment before making their recommendations to purchase. The books are also already available in the warehouse. Hence there is minimal delay with delivery. Trips are usually scheduled during term breaks or at the lecturer's convenience. Transport can be arranged.
Procedure
3.1	Upon selection, the publisher will generate a list of titles selected to inform NP Library. Library will confirm the availability against OPAC. Titles that are not available and within the scope of the Library's collection will be delivered to NP as firm purchases.
4	Co-ordinate lecturers' visits to bookshops (Kinokuniya, Popular, Basheer etc) This approach enables lecturers to review books physically in the bookstore to determine if they meet their academic needs or fall within the scope of the Lifestyle Library's Collection.
Procedure
4.1	Select the titles of interest and bring the titles to the Customer Service Counter.
4.2	Inform the staff at the bookshop that you are selecting for NP Library.
4.3	Deposit your name card with the staff. If you do not have your name card, give your name, contact no. and e-mail.
4.4	When you return to NP, send an mail to lib_ref@np.edu.sg to inform the Library that you have pre-selected titles from the bookshop. State which bookshop that you have visited, the date of selection and who you liase with.
4.5	The bookshop will contact the Library.
4.6	Library will purchase titles that you have selected if they are within the scope of the Library's collection and there is anticipated usage.
4.7	The titles will be reserved under your name and you will be the first to be informed.
5	Book displays in Schools/Divisions. Co-ordinate with lecturers and vendors for book displays in the School/Division at an agreed date and time.
6	Books-on-Approval (BOA) arrangements with local booksellers Under this arrangement, booksellers regularly send books in all subject areas to the Library for consideration of purchase. Lecturers who are interested in participating in reviewing such books are welcome to register your interest with lib_ref1@np.edu.sg. The frequency is about once a month. You will get to review new publications and recommend for purchase.
7	Lecturers who wish to purchase titles for the Library when overseas are to ensure that they check the Library's OPAC (accessible on the Internet or as a Library app on Apple iTunes) to ensure non-availability before making the purchase. Receipts must be retained and submitted to the Library for reimbursement. In case of doubt, please call Ms Nicole Lim at 6460 6419 or email lib_ref1@np.edu.sg.

Media

Music CDs - Library involves student helpers and students from Radio Heatwave in the selection of titles. This includes going down to music shops for the selection.

Feature Films - Lecturers teaching the relevant modules may also visit movie outlets to select titles suitable for their modules.

VHS Collection - Majority of the VHS Collection has been migrated to DVDs. A small collection of the titles which are not available in DVDs are still retained in VHS. The decision to purchase DVD/VCD (if subsequently available) or to convert will be made when students/staff indicate interest for any of these titles.

Periodicals

For recommendation of periodical subscriptions, please indicate the following information:
- subscription to print format, e-format or both.
- the subscription cost if known.
- retention period. For Lifestyle magazines, the retention period is 2 years.

Usage will be the main determinant in the consideration of renewal of periodical subscriptions.

Databases

Only Databases which support curriculum needs will be considered. For new database subscriptions and renewals, endorsement by the Director of the School/Division is required. Students/staff may access e-databases on the NP Intranet through VPN.

Library will inform the School/Division at the end of each semester on the database usage, for action to be taken to promote usage if necessary. Usage will be the main consideration for renewal of database subscriptions.

Recommendation for Purchase

Students, staff and external members may make recommendations for purchase. Please use the relevant Forms.

    Book Requisition
    Media/Music CDs Requisition (audiovisual materials or DVDs/VCDs/CDs)
    Periodical Requisition

Staff may also e-mail recommendation(s) to: lib_ref@np.edu.sg

If you have questions on collection development, you may contact the liaison librarians supporting your Sch/Divs.

Sources to locate titles

Some major sources that can help you locate titles are as follows:

1. NP Online Bookshop
2. Amazon.com
3. Amazon.co.uk
4. WorldCat