The University of Glasgow Library is one of the most important and widely used facilities on campus.  Central to the student experience at Glasgow, and important to the wider community, it aims to provide exceptional services and resources.

In order to enhance its excellent work, the Library Fund has been set up to allow funds to be directed to the priority areas, and in particular those demanding expertise and resourcing beyond the capacity of core funded operations.

Our current priority is the Library Foyer Redevelopment to include the creation of an exhibition space to showcase treasures.  Donor support can also assist with the work of Special Collections and Archive Services.

These examples are not exhaustive and philanthropic investment will help shape the future of this facility adding something extra to one of the best University libraries in the UK.  Please consider making a gift in support of our ambitions.

Click here for more information on the wide range of library activities.

Click here to make a gift to the Library Fund.

The University of Glasgow Library welcomes donations and bequests of material which support and develop existing collections. It will however not normally accept donations which do not match its collection development strategy. The appropriate Subject Librarian will advise on whether any donation matches this strategy.

While the Library is also willing to consider arrangements for the deposit or long-term loan of collections or individual items, it no longer accepts material which duplicates existing library holdings.

All donations or bequests which add to existing collection strengths are particularly welcome. Potential donors of sizeable collections (more than 300 books) should contact the office of the University Librarian in the first instance. Potential donors of smaller collections are requested to contact the appropriate Subject Librarian or e-mail donations@lib.gla.ac.uk. Library staff will take into account the wishes of donors or testators where practicable in considering whether to accept collections. Library staff will inform donors of the decision to accept or decline collections following any discussion. The Library reserves the right to deal with all accepted donations as it deems in accord with its policies, including the right of further disposal.

Within the context of the University's arrangement of responsibilities and services, and in support of its corporate objectives, the Library undertakes:

• to satisfy from its own resources or elsewhere legitimate information needs of the University in furtherance of teaching and research programmes
• to preserve, promote and develop for the benefit of research and scholarship those parts of the national documentation heritage that are within its care
• to extend access to information throughout the academic community by collaborating with other information suppliers within the University
• to optimise the use of resources by collaborating with other institutions at local, regional, national and international levels
• to offer services, based on those provided for its prime users, to assist business, industry and the professions

Library retention policy derives from the overall Library Collections Policy. Three options are considered and apply to all materials, irrespective of format:

• Permanent retention
• Interim retention
• De-selection

Criteria for Permanent Retention

• Material identified and agreed with academic staff as required for teaching or research.
• Material reinforcing heritage collections in Special Collections or in areas of known, particularly historical strengths
• Material constituting a critical mass sufficient to provide the basis of a new special collection in GUL or contributing to a collaborative collection.
• Material covered by contractual agreements, such as official deposit (e.g. EU documents) or collaborative management schemes (e.g. CoFoR), or donation.
• Material with a significant University of Glasgow association.
• Material meeting any of the following specific criteria:

• Published before 1851
• Published before 1900, containing colour plates
• Manuscripts
• Original photographic prints
• Evidence of important ownership or association
• part of a limited edition (max. 100 numbered copies)

Criteria for Interim Retention

• Material where the above criteria for permanent retention does not apply
• There is evidence of only light recent use
• Levels of future use are sufficiently uncertain to justify immediate de-selection
• The status of materials held under interim retention should be reviewed at least every 5 years and either a) designated for permanent retention, b) confirmed for a further period of interim retention or c) deselected, as circumstances require.

Criteria for De-Selection

• Material which does not meet the criteria for permanent or interim retention.
• Duplicate material not in heavy demand.
• Superseded editions not liable to retention under subject-specific policies of agreements with academic staff.
• Actual and likely future use do not justify retention.

Consultation

On the basis of feedback from internal consultation, staff engaged in the movement or de-selection of material will undertake any necessary consultation with academic staff. The final decision on retention and location rests with the Library.

The Charter describes your rights and responsibilities as a Library user. It will help you to make the best use of our services and safeguard your interests. Some of the rights referred to, notably access to electronic services, apply only to staff and matriculated students of the University.

Admission to the Library

• All staff, students issued with a current matriculation card, staff identity card, or GUL card are entitled to use Library facilities.
• You must have your card with you to enter the Library and to borrow books. Please carry it with you at all times.

Your rights

• Library collections are acquired to support research, teaching and learning, and you are entitled to have access to them.
• You may use the study space provided during Library opening hours.
• You may access the Common Student Computing Environment (CSCE).
• You may use photocopiers, microfilm readers and audio-visual equipment, subject to the provisions of the current Copyright legislation.
• You may borrow materials, except those designated for consultation only, when the Lending Services Desk is open.
• You may recall and reserve most items out on loan.
• You can view your own Borrower Record on the Library Catalogue.
• You may use the Document Delivery service to obtain items not held by the Library.
• You should expect the Library to provide up-to-date guides to its services and regulations.
• You may contact the Enquiry Service in person, by telephone, by letter or by email for information, help and advice on all aspects of Library services.
• You may contact your subject librarian for subject-related information.
• You can make suggestions, comments and complaints and expect a response within one week.
• You should expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.
• If you think your rights have been infringed, ask to speak to the Duty Officer, who will try to resolve your concerns.

Your responsibilities

• You should be familiar with and abide by Library Regulations at all times. You will find the text of the Regulations here.
• You should treat other Library users and Library staff with courtesy and respect.
• You must show your Library card whenever requested by a member of Library staff .
• You must treat all Library materials with care. Wilful damage of Library equipment and materials contravenes University Regulations, and may lead to disciplinary action.
• You may not remove any items from the Library which have not been issued to you. Unauthorised removal of Library materials contravenes University Regulations, and may lead to disciplinary action.
• To ensure that the Library is a pleasant and hygienic place in which to work, and to avoid damage to stock and equipment, you may eat or drink in the Library only in the refreshment area on Level 2.
• Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the Library.
• You should show consideration for others by observing silence in public areas.
• Mobile phones should be kept switched off in the Library.
• You should use designated group study rooms when you need to discuss your work
• You are responsible for all materials borrowed using your card and for knowing when they should be returned. You must return or renew all items on or before the due date.
• Recalled items should be returned by the date requested.
• You must not lend your card to any other person, and must present a valid card in order to borrow. If you lose your card, please notify the Lending Desk immediately.
• Library users are bound by the Joint Academic Network Acceptable Use Policy and the University's Computing Regulations, under which you may access the Internet . Inappropriate use of the Internet may lead to disciplinary action.
• You are responsible for notifying the Library of your current e-mail and postal addresses.
• You should return items you have consulted to their correct place on the shelves or to a shelving trolley.
• You should leave the Library promptly at closing time.

Introduction

• This statement describes the principles on which the Library acquires and manages the information it provides in support of the priorities of the University in research and teaching and its engagement with the wider community.
• The general principles inform collection development strategy agreed by library staff at faculty or department level

Strategic Overview

In support of University objectives, the Library will:

• Maximise effective use of collections as a dynamic resource for research and teaching.
• Maximise access to other collections and resources.
• Co-operate with, and participate in, local and national strategies aimed at increasing access to information, including alternative methods of publication.
• Develop service models which enhance access to and delivery of information to support research, underpin new teaching initiatives, and promote wider participation in learning.

Scope

• This policy applies to all research and teaching collections administered by the University Library and to all information resources, irrespective of format.
• The Library operates in the context of the University's overall information resource, in association with the University Archives & Business Records Centre and the Hunterian Museum & Galleries.

Collection Development

Aims

The Library aims to:

• Provide the information needed to support teaching, learning and research in the University from resources wherever they are located.
• Deliver information to users in the format and location most convenient to them.
• Optimise provision by making information available to users electronically wherever possible.
• Ensure that all material can be found by users either via the library catalogue or similar means of disclosure.
• Preserve materials identified as potentially relevant to research and teaching in the longer term.
• Collaborate with other institutions to increase and improve the information resource which may be made available.
• Make its resources available beyond the immediate academic community without prejudice to its primary responsibilities to the University.
• Preserve, promote and develop for the benefit of research those parts of the national heritage within its care.
• Deepen and diversify the research base, as seems necessary.

Selection

• Materials to support current teaching and research are selected primarily by academic staff and subject librarians.
• Priority is given to the purchase of material to support current teaching and research.
• Other items, such as those in the Department of Special Collections and the Maps, Official Publications and Statistics Unit, are selected by library staff according to their own collection development strategies.
• Reference and bibliographic materials are selected primarily by Enquiry Services staff on the basis of user demand.
• The decision on whether to acquire expensive items may be influenced by their availability in another library within a reasonable distance.
• The Library is developing a life-cycle approach to its selection policy to combine cost-effective acquisition with long-term availability of resources.
• In the case of resources required to support co-operative programmes of teaching or research, the Library will liaise with the library of the partner institution(s).

Acquisition

Choice of format

• The Library will acquire information on the basis of optimum access, functionality and cost-effective use of its resources.
• Where an electronic resource satisfies these criteria more fully than the print edition, preference will be given to this format.
• Where an e-resource is preferred, the Library aims to ensure long-term availability according to need.
• The Library aims to maximise off-campus access to electronic resources.

Purchase

• Most current materials are bought from the University block grant allocated by the University Management Group to the Library and subsequently distributed to faculties.
• Subscriptions to electronic resources and to reference and bibliographic materials, particularly where they are inter-disciplinary, may be funded by the Library from non-devolved funding.
• Start-up funding for new research and teaching may be eligible for support from funds released at the discretion of the University Librarian.
• The Library aims to maximise the purchasing power of its grant and benefits from its membership of purchasing consortia and from discounts negotiated by national bodies, such as JISC.

Exchanges

• The Library is willing to consider exchange agreements with other institutions where the material corresponds to known teaching or research strengths.

Deposit

• The Library is willing to consider arrangements for the deposit or long-term loan of collections or individual items.

Collection management

Retention

• The Library aims to retain indefinitely material which it believes may remain useful for teaching or research in the longer term.
• Material may be located on the open shelves, in Special Collections Department, in the Library Research Annexe, or in the Collaborative Academic Store for Scotland (CASS).
• Location is determined by one or more of the following criteria: rarity and value of the items, physical condition, level of use and availability of space.
• Material required for current teaching or research will, as far as possible, be housed on the open shelves or made available in a print or electronic surrogate.
• Rare or valuable material will normally be housed in the Special Collections Department or in the Library Research Annexe.
• Lightly used research material in all formats expected to remain relevant and in demand in the long term will normally be relocated to the Library Research Annexe.
• Lightly used or unused research material which may have long-term value but has no interest for teaching or research in the University in the foreseeable future may be relocated to the CASS.
• Responsibility for deciding the most appropriate location for specific materials rests with Library staff, following consultation with academic staff where necessary. In particular, print copies of electronic resources which provide guaranteed long-term access to journal back-files will be assessed for transfer to the Library Research Annexe.

Discard

The Library will normally discard only:

• Duplicates or superseded editions of monographs. Generally only first and current editions will be retained. Intermediate editions may be retained if thought to be significant in the longer term. 
• Duplicate journal sets.
• Isolated issues, short or incomplete journal runs which closed more than five years prior to consideration.
• Abstracting and indexing journals in print format where access is available electronically.
• Material in poor phyiscal condition and beyond repair, espcially where the may be a risk of contamination of neighbouring volumes.
• Print editions of materials available in electronic format, assuming that permanent, long-term access to the electronic edition is guaranteed and that there continues to be access for members of the University to one or more archive copies of print editions on satisfactory terms.
• Small collections which lack the critical mass necessary to support teaching and research.
• Material which falls outside the scope of the collections strategy.

Preservation

• The Library aims to preserve its permanent collections by maintaining appropriate standards in regard to their storage, handling, re-formatting and display. It also seeks through robust mechanisms to ensure sustained access to its digital resources. 
  

Consultation

• The Library will liaise with users regarding major relocations or disposals from the collections.

Disclosure and Delivery

• The Library aims to deliver information in the format and the location most convenient to users.
• All material added to the collections is catalogued and classified timeously, to ensure that users can identify and locate the sources they need.
• The Library promotes disclosure and delivery of research information via its institutional repository.

Promotion

• The Library will promote its collections to users to ensure they are alerted to the availability of its resources and enabled to make best use of them.

Collaboration and Research

• The Library will continue to contribute to the work of national and international organisations including the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL), the Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL), the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) and the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and to participate in research projects intended to increase the resources available to researchers and improve their access to them.