Collections Development - Saint John

Introduction to Hans W. Klohn Commons as part of the ISS Department

Hans W. Klohn Commons library is part of the University of New Brunswick Saint John Information Services and Systems Department, which also includes Information Technology and Instructional Technology. The Information Services and Systems Department's mission and vision statements are as follows:

ISS Mission

We advance learning and scholarship by providing effective, efficient, and well-managed technology and information services to all of our users, whenever and wherever needed.

ISS Vision

We strive to be leaders in the innovative delivery of technology and information, and, through our expertise and collaboration with our colleagues across UNB, to enhance lifelong learning and contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of New Brunswick.

We are building a unique organization that integrates information resources with technology in new ways, and that will ultimately deliver the best information support services anywhere. These services, provided in appropriate facilities, including the new Commons, by expert staff with state-of-the-art-tools, will directly assist UNB by attracting new students, improving student retention, and by actively engaging our communities of users in the academic enterprise.
(Reviewed May 2009.)

Introduction to the Commons library as part of the Campus

Hans W. Klohn Commons serves the campus of UNB Saint John at Tucker Park. The Commons library supports the teaching, learning and research activities of undergraduate, graduate and distance students (2500 FTEs), faculty, staff, and researchers.

As a well-rounded, primarily undergraduate student-focused campus, UNBSJ offers degrees in Arts, Science, Education and Nursing, as well as Administration courses and early-year courses in Engineering. In September of 2010 Dalhousie Medical Education Programme - New Brunswick, a medical degree-granting programme, opened at Tucker Park and a medical librarian was hired to help support the programme.

Collections Development

The Commons library allots money for print and multi-media purchases from the library acquisitions budget. The ordering is done by faculty members, and liaison librarians who collaborate with faculty members, suggesting acquisitions and spending funds in collections areas in need of balanced development. Each faculty has its own library fund. Where materials ordered meet the criteria for support of the academic curriculum, and where funds allow, such items are purchased.

Hans W. Klohn Commons library shares with UNB Libraries a vast collection of electronic databases, e-journals, e-newspapers, and e-books, paying a formula-based share of the university's electronic acquisitions budget. Librarians at HWK Commons are part of the UNB Libraries-wide Committee that makes collections development decisions about electronic resources.

Description of Collections

Hans W. Klohn Commons library holds over 200,000 print monographs, print periodicals, Statistics Canada materials, microforms, DVDs, video and audio recordings, and CD-ROMs. It has a print Reference collection that includes but is not limited to general and subject-specific encyclopaedias, dictionaries, handbooks, annuals, almanacs, bibliographies, and indexes/abstracts. Moreover, it offers through its website access to 70 plus electronic Reference services which comprise 22,000 plus electronic journals and over 100,000 electronic books.

For more detailed information on collections development policies as they relate to UNB libraries please see the UNB Libraries Collections Policy (Fredericton). HWK library's standard Reference materials, government documents and publications, serials and monographs, microforms, textbooks, audio-visuals and electronic materials, as well as donations/gifts are covered by these policies and procedures. Please see also UNBF Libraries pages on collections management, including deselection policies. While Hans W. Klohn Commons library carries out its collections development and management work autonomously, the policies and procedures that guide our work are very similar to those developed by UNB Fredericton libraries.

Contact Collections Development

General questions about collections development and gifts/donations should be directed to Janet Fraser, Bibliographic and Collections Services, (506) 648-5996. Questions regarding electronic resources may be directed to Linda Hansen, Electronic Services, (506) 648-5788.