Policies

Borrow

You must present an Indiana University ID or Indiana Resident (INRE) Borrower's Card to check out materials.

Please report lost or stolen INRE cards to the Library. Replacement cards will be issued free of charge.

Overdue

Materials checked out on your card are your responsibility. Loan schedule and fine information are available at Your Borrowing Privileges, as well as in print at the Circulation desk. Overdue notices are mailed or e-mailed to the borrower. E-mail is the official means of communication for Indiana University affiliated users. Items that are more than 30 days overdue are billed to the borrower for replacement. Normal replacement costs per item range from $85.50 to $120.50, which includes a processing fee of $10.50 per item. Replacement costs may be higher for special materials and equipment. If overdue materials are returned, all overdue fines will be canceled.

Renew

Item(s) may be renewed provided there are: no outstanding fines on the item(s); and there are no holds or recalls placed on the item(s).
Note: Some items, such as laptops, cannot be renewed. If you are unsure, ask the Circulation Desk or email iukloan@iu.edu.

To renew in person, present your IU ID or INRE card and the item(s) at the Circulation desk. To renew by phone, supply your IU ID or INRE card number, name, address, and item information (barcode number/title).

Indiana University affiliated users (students, faculty, staff) may also renew materials online via the IUCAT My Account feature by logging in to IUCAT at https://iucat.iu.edu.

I. Introduction:

No guideline statement can be definitive for all time, since a library is not a static institution. Ideas about its nature and contents are constantly evolving. The collection development statement is a living document. As academic programs, research and service initiatives, and technology change, so should the library’s collection development.

II. Statement of Purpose of this Policy:

The purpose of the collection development statement is to help the IU Kokomo Library make informed decisions about what is purchased for the collection. It is hoped that this statement of policy will aid selectors in making judgments from a clearly recognized point of view so that the growth of the collection will be consistent with its stated objectives.

III. Objectives:

Indiana University Kokomo Library's goals are parallel to the objectives of the University. They are student success and opportunity, service to state and beyond, and transformative research and creativity. To see the full IU Kokomo 2030 strategic plan, please look at the campus website.

Specifically, the library supports the teaching, research and service missions of the University by providing information and information sources to students, faculty, and staff through a well selected and organized collection. The collection is the traditional means of meeting the needs of the library's clientele. To the extent that money allows, this collection should make it unnecessary for students to go to other libraries for materials used in their studies or for faculty to go elsewhere for materials which are directly related to their teaching.

Optimally, any material of sufficient importance to be mentioned in a course ought to be represented in the collection. When new programs are created, the department should ask for additional funds to be allotted to the IU Kokomo Library, so that subject specific materials can be purchased. In addition, the collection should include selected material in all major subject fields, whether taught at the University or not. Books and other items in areas of cultural and recreational interest should be supplied for the use of students, faculty and staff in limited fashion because of the commuter nature of the University and the number of easily accessible public libraries in the metropolitan area. Sources needed by faculty for class preparation or research which can be made available only through purchase should be obtained for the collection. Where the collection does not include the sources students and faculty require, it should provide indexes, abstracts, bibliographies, and other appropriate means for identifying the existence and location of required sources.

Another objective of the library is to serve as the archive for all official records of IU Kokomo. Materials relating to the history, development, and character of the University should be preserved. Since policies vary by collection, please refer to the Indiana University Kokomo Archives Collection Guidelines.

Finally, to keep the collection alive and useful, an active and continuing program of selection for withdrawal, or weeding, should be maintained. It is important to prevent the shelves from becoming cluttered with materials of questionable historical value, even though they once had temporary significance.

To meet these objectives within the library's limited budget, each purchase should meet at least one of the following criteria:

a. Sources which contain assigned readings.

b. Books and periodicals which supplement classroom and laboratory work, provide information for papers and reports, and provide additional material for the motivated student.

c. Sources which are judged necessary for a liberal education, for the development of an informed individual capable of independent judgement. These sources will include the works of standard authors, representatives of the best modern fiction and non-fiction, and outstanding periodicals

d. Reference sources used frequently for short factual answers.

e. Indexes, abstracts, and bibliographies which identify sources of interest to students or faculty.

f. Research and reference tools that are used regularly in the professions which our students can be expected to enter.

g. Current awareness publications.

h. The library prioritizes resources that support broad campus-wide instructional and research needs. Specialized resources or datasets that primarily serve in the curricular or research interests of a specific academic unit may be funded by that unit. Funding decisions for such resources should be made collaboratively between the library and the requesting department.

Material which meets the general objectives of the library collection, but which does not meet one of these general criteria may be purchased if purchase is the only way in which the needed information will be available to the faculty or student body members.

IV. Responsibility of Acquisitions:

The most important aspect of acquisition work takes place before materials are actually ordered. This work involves the planned selection of items best qualified to strengthen the University's resources for instruction and research. The importance of wise selection has grown in proportion to the increase in the volume of available materials, the cost of those materials, and the costs of acquiring, cataloging, housing, and servicing. Responsibility for the selection of library materials for the University lies with the entire university community. Faculty members are largely responsible for recommending the acquisition of materials in their special subject fields. Any member of the faculty or staff may request that an item be added to the collection by completing a purchase request form. Students may also submit recommendations for purchases if they are within the guidelines of the selection policy.

The Library Staff should encourage the interest and activity of individual faculty members in selecting materials for the library to ensure the building of a comprehensive collection. The librarians assume responsibility for systematically reviewing current and retrospective bibliographies and making selections from them in areas neglected by the faculty. Responsibility for coordination of the collection, for aiding the faculty with bibliographic assistance, and for making judgments as to format and degree of completeness rests with the librarians.  [HY5] Final responsibility for acquisitions is jointly held by librarians and faculty, with decisions informed by ongoing consultation, disciplinary expertise, curricular alignment, and the university's broader research and service mission.

Demand Driven Acquisitions:

The IU Kokomo Library currently has two DDA programs. One is through EBSCO and the other is JSTOR. What this means in terms of our collection is that we have access to a multitude of titles, but once they have hit their allowance for access, that is when a purchase happens. Once the library has purchased the title, we have ownership of that access. So, if you are accessing a title through the library for a course and it is required reading, please reach out to the library so we can make sure that access is uninterrupted.

V. Guiding Principles for Selection:

In striving to meet its objectives within the limits of its resources, the library should follow these general directives:

A. In the acquisition of new titles, subject areas that are taught at IU Kokomo will take precedence over those that are not. Whether this procurement is done by recommendation of titles from faculty or by librarians, there should be a tie in with the IU Kokomo campus teachings.

B. Students should be supplied with appropriate materials to supplement their textbooks.

C. In the acquisition of new titles, the major emphasis should be on current publications, and among those, works which promise to fulfill future as well as current needs should receive preference.

D. Requested required texts should be purchased with an unlimited user access license (DRM-Free) when available. Purchasing an unlimited user access license and being DRM-Free is the most accessible version to purchase. If an item is only available as an unlimited user access license but not DRM-Free, that is better but might require some accessibility measures to be implemented.

Before materials that are rare, highly specialized, or very expensive are purchased for students or faculty engaged in research, the holdings of other local libraries should be consulted to avoid unnecessary duplication. If the items desired are available within the metropolitan area or through Interlibrary Services, there is no justification for the library to buy them, unless they are required reading for a course.
F. Materials in foreign languages which can be used for teaching and exercise in language courses offered at the University are desirable purchases for the library. However, materials in non-language courses which are published in languages other than English, apart from dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference tools, shall be bought only in those instances when there is evidence of their immediate usefulness to students and faculty.

G. No materials should be excluded from the collection because of the race or nationality of the authors, or the political, moral, or religious views expressed therein. All sides of a controversial issue should be represented in the collection.

H. When there is a choice, e-books should be selected over physical books unless the cost of the physical book coupled with the cost of binding is less expensive than the e-book.

I. For back files of serial publications, digital format should be selected over paper copies when both are available.

J. When it comes to multiple copies of a print title, replacement, or additional formats, the budget should be looked at before making these purchases. Per financial constraints, the library should purchase new materials when possible and only purchase replacements if that title is crucial to a particular course, discipline, or essential to the learning process.

VI. Guiding Principles for Weeding:

Historically, if an item is selected for wedding, it is because it is damaged, or that title can be accessed digitally. The following procedures should be considered when it comes to weeding physical items from the library.

a. When it comes to the weeding of materials, there are many factors that must be considered.

i. The usage statistics of the item should be considered. This could be the total checkouts within the Integrated Library System (ILS) or the usage statistics that are tallied for smaller collections (e.g., Bound, Index, or Periodicals)

1. Examining the date created, date last charged, last discharged, in-house uses within the ILS helps inform the potential to purchase a replacement copy, so all this information should be tracked.

i. Availability of physical items within the IU system. Before something is discarded, checking within the ILS or IUCAT to see if the title is available at another IU campus is crucial.

ii. Checking the availability within OCLC’s Worldcat system is also important to see if other libraries around the state have access to this title. Or if other states have access so that the potential for utilizing Interlibrary Loan Services is possible.

Digital Collections (Databases, eJournals, Subscriptions)

When it comes to the library's databases, eJournals, and annual subscriptions, they follow a different set of weeding criteria than physical materials.

a. Usage statistics will be examined monthly to determine how resources are faring during the fiscal year. Some resources will be put on a watchlist if their cost-per-use is over thirty-five dollars. This number was chosen because of the cost it would be through interlibrary loan to pay for the article(s).

Reaching out to teaching faculty is imperative when having cancellation discussions. This conversation will help the library understand how the resource is being used and how essential it is to the teaching and learning needs of the IU Kokomo campus.
The price of the resource also plays a role in cancellation.
If a resource is cancelled, the library will do its best to find an equivalent resource that can supplement the content that was being accessed.

Donations / Gifts
a. Monetary

i. If you would like to make monetary donations to the library, you can reach out to The Dean, Yan He.

b. Physical Items

i. If you would like to donate physical items to the IU Kokomo Library, please include the title, ISBN, author, and condition of the item within an excel spreadsheet. You will then send that email to iukres@iu.edu If you would like to speak with someone about the items, please contact the Library Collections Coordinator at 765 455–9238.

 VIII. Reconsideration of Materials

a. To put a title on the Reconsideration of Materials list, please fill out this form so that the library team can look at your request.

IX. Accessibility

The IU Kokomo Library is committed to supporting the research journey of every patron by providing equitable access to the materials in our collections. For information on our Digital Accessibility Materials, please visit our webpage.

Gifts enable the IU Kokomo Library [subsequently known as Library] to broaden and enrich its holdings. The acceptance of gifts also strengthens the relationship between the library and its communities and provides a way by which a donor can share his or her intellectual interests with future generations.

This gift policy governs the acceptance and stewardship of gifts to ensure that the interests of both the Library and the donor are served. This document does not apply to acceptance of materials to be housed in the IU Kokomo Archives. It is the philosophy of the IU Kokomo Library that collections should be developed according to the mission statements of Indiana University Kokomo and the Library. The Library will develop its resources to support the work of its users, including faculty, students, staff, and the wider community of North Central Indiana. Specific collection interests vary from time to time, but in general, the Library's collections relate to those fields of research and study offered at IU Kokomo and materials of particular interest to the Kokomo geographic. The Library only accepts gifts from donors when such acceptance furthers the mission of the Library.

The following procedures seek to normalize the handling of incoming gift material.

Conditions of Acceptance

The Library welcomes gifts of materials that enhance the strength of its collections and support the instructional and research programs of the University. The Library will ask to review gifts prior to acceptance and reserves the right to decline an offer of material that is already held in the collections, that does not meet collection needs, or which the Library cannot steward appropriately. If a gift is declined, library personnel may suggest other libraries or institutions better suited for the donation.

Gifts are accepted with the understanding that they become the property of Indiana University, and that the Library will make all necessary decisions as to their retention, location, cataloging, and other considerations related to their use and disposition. Special terms or conditions requested by the donor should be discussed with the Library Collections Coordinator, and as needed, the Dean of the Library, before the gift is accepted. Once a gift is transferred to the Library, no part of it will be returned. It is the responsibility of the Library Collection Coordinator to review offers and donations to make selection decisions based on the collection development philosophies and policies of the library and of the subject area involved.

Outdated textbooks, superseded editions, duplicate copies, material in foreign languages other than those taught at IU Kokomo, items in poor physical condition, and outdated material formats are not appropriate for addition to the collection and will not be accepted as donations. Any materials accepted and subsequently deemed unsuitable will be disposed of at the library’s discretion.

Procedures for Receiving Gifts

Gifts should be processed by the Library Collections Coordinator. Any library employee, that is not the Library Collections Coordinator, receiving a gift on behalf of the Library should notify the Library Collections Coordinator. The donor should also fill out the Donor Agreement form, which includes the donor’s name, address, number of items donated, and the date of the gift. Any correspondence received with the gift should be forwarded to the Library Collections Coordinator along with the completed donor agreement form.

Acknowledgement and Record-keeping

Every effort will be made to send an acknowledgement letter to the donor. This acknowledgement letter will be prepared by the Library Collections Coordinator and signed by the Dean of the Library. Acknowledgement of items retained from gifts for the Library collections will be sent in January following the year of donation. (i.e. gifts received from Jan-Dec 2019 will be acknowledged in Jan 2020). The acknowledgement letter includes donor name and address as well as number and format of gifted materials. (e.g., 10 hardbacks; 3 paperbacks; 2 DVDs)

Any Indiana resident 18 years of age or older may apply for an Indiana Resident (INRE) Borrower's card.

Any Indiana resident 16-17 years of age may apply for an INRE card with the approval and presence of the minor's parent/guardian.

Below are the steps to obtaining a card.

1. An INRE card application must be filled out completely.
2. A photo ID and proof of Indiana residency must be presented at the Circulation desk.

Photo IDs that are also proof of Indiana residency:

• Indiana Driver's License
• Indiana BMV-issued ID card

Other acceptable forms of photo ID are:

(These forms of photo ID must be paired with proof of Indiana residency)

• U.S. Military ID
• Passport
• School ID

Acceptable forms of proof of residency include, but are not limited to:

(Minors do not need to show proof of residency, but the parent/guardian must.)

• Computer-generated bill issued by a utility company, credit card company, doctor, or hospital showing borrower's name and address of residence; must be dated within 60 days of the date of application.
• Current homeowner, renter, or motor vehicle insurance policy showing borrower's name and address of residence; must be dated within one year of the application date.
• Change-of-address confirmation from the United States Postal Service showing borrower's prior and current address.

3. Circulation staff will confirm completion of the application and verify photo ID and proof of residency.
4. Circulation staff will inform borrower of loan periods, procedures for renewing and returning materials, and fine policies.

Standard loan periods by affiliation

• Undergraduate students: 45 days
• Graduate students: 120 days
• Faculty and staff: 120 days
• Indiana residents: 30 days

Recall Fine and Replacement Costs

• Recall fine for all materials: $25
• Processing fee for all billed items: $10.50
• Replacement costs: $75-$110 depending on item
• Note: Items of higher value (laptops, gaming consoles, and more) are subject to the Replacement Billing for High-Value Items Policy.

Applicability

This policy would apply to high‑cost items, including but not limited to technology and devices such as gaming consoles, tablets, laptops, and similar materials whose replacement cost may exceed the standard replacement fee range.

Determination of Non‑Return Status

An item is eligible for replacement billing when:

• The item is more than 14 days past due, and
• The item is designated missing in the library system, and
• Required patron notifications have been issued according to standard procedures.

Replacement Cost Assessment

Pricing Research

When a high‑cost item is determined to be non‑returned, library staff will:

• Identify an equivalent replacement item comparable in type and condition.
• Consult one or more reputable pricing sources, which may include:
  • IU vendors
  • Major retailers
  • Established secondary resale marketplaces
• Note the price range and date consulted.

Fee Determination

Based on the pricing research:

• The library will assess either:
  • The standard replacement fee range (as posted), or
  • A documented exception for high‑cost items when actual replacement costs substantially exceed the standard range.
• The standard processing fee will be added to the replacement cost.
• The total amount billed to the patron will be recorded.

Documentation Requirements

For all high‑cost or technology item replacements, staff will complete a Replacement Fee Determination Record, which documents:

• Item identification information
• Replacement cost charged and processing fee
• Pricing sources consulted
• A brief summary explaining how the replacement cost was determined
• The policy basis used (standard range or exception)
• Any additional relevant notes (e.g., patron non‑response)

This documentation would serve as the official record supporting the assessed charges.

Review and Authorization

• Replacement fee determinations for high‑cost items may be reviewed by the Dean of the Library as appropriate.
• Any required approvals will be noted on the Replacement Fee Determination Record.

Billing and Reversal of Charges

• Once documented, the replacement fee will be billed to the patron’s account.
• If the item is returned, replacement charges will be reversed in accordance with standard library policy.

Consistency and Transparency

If you need a computer classroom for single sessions during the semester, faculty and staff can schedule the Information Literacy Classrooms (ILCs) for the primary purpose of presenting instructional sessions in which instructor and student workstations are needed. The Library does not reserve the ILCs for extended or semester-long instruction.

When not reserved, the Information Literacy Classrooms function as open computer labs for student use. The Library regards the last week of classes and final exams as a quiet study period for students. Every attempt is made to maintain the Library as a space conducive to preparation for the end of semester papers and examinations. The ILCs will not be scheduled for other uses during these time periods except with approval of the Dean of the Library.

For scheduling, please book online. We will contact you with either a reservation confirmation or additional questions within 3 business days. For additional information, contact Britney Netherton or email bnethert@iu.edu.

The classrooms are configured as follows:

• Information Literacy Classroom 1 (Room #144) has seating and table space for 18 students as well as 14 student computer workstations, an instructor workstation, a document camera, and a digital projector.
• Information Literacy Classroom 2 (Room #148) has 24 student computer workstations, an instructor workstation, a document camera, and a digital projector.
• Wireless access is available in both rooms.

Library study rooms are available for currently enrolled IU Kokomo students to use for individual or quiet group study. Rooms are not available for course instruction, faculty office hours, or for meetings among staff, faculty, or student organizations.

All study rooms are available for use from the opening of the Library until ten (10) minutes before closing to allow staff time to perform closing procedures. Reservations are accepted Monday-Friday (see Room Scheduling).

Facilities

• Two large study rooms on the first floor, KA 116 and KA 118, each accommodate up to eight students and include a conference table, wall-mounted monitor with collaborative technology, and white boards*.
• Four medium study rooms on the first floor KA 147, KA 149, KA 155, and KA 157 each accommodate up to six students and include a conference table, wall-mounted monitor with collaborative technology, and white boards.*
• Four medium study rooms on the second floor KA 220, KA 222, KA 224, and KA 226 each accommodate up to six students and include a table, desktop computer, white board*, and chalkboard**.

The above ten study rooms may be reserved for half hour increments, up to three hours per day, three times per week (Monday-Friday), per individual or group. When not reserved, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, the above ten study rooms are available on a first come, first served basis.

• Three small study rooms on the first floor KA 159, KA 161, and KA 163 are always open for walk-in use. These rooms each accommodate up to four students and include a table, wall-mounted monitor with collaborative technology, and white board*.

*White board markers and erasers may be checked out at the Circulation Service Desk for two-hour periods.

** Additional chalk is available at the Circulation Service Desk.

Room Scheduling

• Reservations may be made by currently enrolled students up to one week in advance but no less than 24 hours in advance.
• Room reservations must be made using your primary IU email address exactly as listed in the IU Directory. Reservations from other or non-IU email addressed will not be approved.
• Access our booking system to request a reservation (https://iuk.libcal.com).
• You will receive a confirmation email with room number, reservation date/time, and cancellation instructions.
• Study room users without reservations must vacate the room when an individual or group with a reservation arrives. A daily schedule of study room reservations is available online and will be posted outside each room.
• No-shows: If the room is not claimed within 15 minutes of the reserved time, the reservation will be canceled and the study room will be available to others for the remainder of the reserved time slot.

The Library is not responsible for unattended belongings. Materials left unattended in a study room for more than 10 minutes will be removed and taken to the Circulation Service Desk.

Please report any problems with the rooms to the Access Services Supervisor, KA 117A in the Library or via phone at 765-455-9237.