Selecting and ordering resources
The Library collections and resources exist to support your teaching and researching needs, and the needs of your students. We value your recommendations for additions to the collections.
For Program and Course accreditations please inform your Faculty or Campus Librarian of any resource requirements or service requirements as far in advance as possible. The Library will submit an official response as part of the University's Program Management processes.
Placing a request
| New material | How to request |
|---|
| Books and other one-off purchases |
Contact your Faculty or Campus librarian |
| Journals, eJournals and other serial subscriptions |
Academic staff may request new Library resources by contacting your Faculty or Campus Librarian |
Library subscriptions are continually reviewed for their relevance to current teaching, learning and research and the University’s strategic priorities. It is important to ensure costs are sustainable and that balance is achieved between obtaining new materials and maintaining valued existing resources. Note that institutional subscription costs are generally higher than individual costs. Please consider if a new journal subscription or book is necessary or if simply obtaining individual articles and other material via the Library's Interlibrary Loan Service will be sufficient.
Requests are considered favourably when
- Price is reasonable
- Anticipated usage is medium to high
- Format is electronic
- Accompanied by documentation from publisher’s site and a recommendation based on personal use
Significant criteria affecting approval of request:
- Content coverage (what types and level of resources)
- Likely relevance to teaching, learning and research needs (e.g. list teaching or research programs, location of users, how the resources would be used)
- Quality issues (e.g. impact factor/ peer review/ existing USQ collection strength/ comparison titles)
- Format: electronic preferred, accessible to on – and off-campus USQ clientele
- Cost and related issues (e.g. value for money; accreditation requirements; equivalent cancellation if required)
- Cross-faculty relevance
- Feedback from trial of product (see below)
As subscriptions involve an ongoing commitment of Library funds, the final decision for purchase is made by the Library Information Resources Committee (IRC). Your Faculty or Campus Librarian will advise if your request has been successful.
Trialling a new electronic resource
The Library provides trials of new electronic resources that may be of interest to the staff and students of USQ. If you trial one of these resources, please add a comment to the Library's blog with your opinion of the resource. This will assist the Library in its decision to pursue a subscription or not.
You can request a trial by contacting your Faculty or Campus librarian.
Evaluating and selecting books, journals and other resources (online and print)
The following are good tools to help you to identify material for the USQ Library.
Resource evaluation form (limited access)