Purpose:

To outline Platt College’s Knowledge Resource Library mission and collection and the process involved in developing and maintaining the collection

Revision Responsibility: Information Specialist

Responsible Executive Office: Dean of Nursing

Policy Appendices: Knowledge Resource Library Course Reserves Request Form, Knowledge Resource Library Resource Addition Request Form

Revised: August 7, 2009, August 7, 2014 to reflect language of evidence based practice and literacy skills

Policy:

I. Knowledge Resource Library Mission Statement

The Knowledge Resource Library staff provides outstanding resources and professional technical skills to users, collaborates with faculty and students in individual and group settings, and assists with the instruction of evidence based practice and information literacy skills.
 
II. Overview of the Collection

The Knowledge Resource Library provides access to information resources including books, journals, databases and audiovisual media to support the curriculum.
 
Databases are the primary source of information to provide access 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  They are also peer-reviewed, research based and feature current information added continuously.  
  
III. Other Sources of Information Resources

Interlibrary loan (ILL) – The Colorado State Library State Wide Interlibrary Loan Fast Track and National Library of Medicine Docline systems are used for resource sharing with other Colorado libraries.

IV. Continuing Education for Faculty

Nursing Faculty – One-on one collaboration for information literacy and evidence based practice.  The order of preference for sources is the institution from which they are acquiring a degree, the Knowledge Resource Library database and lastly the ILL systems.
 
V. Selection

Faculty is consulted for further selection of materials. Information Specialist uses resources such as Doody’s star rating, Brandon Hill List and American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Awards for suggested titles.  Another tool used for selection is benchmarking with other libraries and professional organizations such as the Medical Library Association Nursing and Allied Health Resource Section and Special Library Association.
 
VI. Staff, Operating Hours and Equipment

One full time professional with a master’s degree in library and information science and one part time library technician staff the Knowledge Resource Library.  Research assistance is provided from 8am – 5:30pm Monday through Thursday and 8am – 5pm on Friday.   There are six computers, one copy/printer machine, and  quiet study areas in the Knowledge Resource Library.
 
V. Electronic Databases

Electronic databases enable our users to access electronic resources 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Our databases are resources for the general education and nursing faculty, students, staff, and alumni.
 
Weeding
 
Information Specialist and Faculty collaborate to determine obsolete materials.  Books that are more than two versions old are discarded unless the book is a classic in the field of study, as determined by faculty in collaboration with the Information Specialist.

Nursing books outside of the last five years are disregarded unless the book is determined classic by faculty in collaboration with the Information Specialist.   

Check out history will be reviewed for items published outside the last eight years. Classic information will be retained.