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Standards

Standards for Chiropractic College Libraries

To top of page 1. Statement/Objectives

1.1 The chiropractic college library shall provide organized services to meet and anticipate the information and resource needs of its constituency. As an integral part of the educational, clinical, and research programs offered by the college, the library develops directional, informational, and research services in support of these programs. It collects and organizes records, documents scientific pursuit, and teaches or assists users in the retrieval or interpretation of these records and documents. The library plans and evaluates its programs and resources based on user needs. The library articulates its roles and functions through written goals and objectives.

1.2 These goals and objectives shall be reviewed and updated regularly by the librarians in concert with the library committee or appropriate college administrators, to incorporate advances in the fields of information retrieval and librarianship or relevant changes in the curriculum or the goals and objectives of the college.

To top of page 2. Organization and Administration

2.1 The library shall be administered in a manner that encourages the fullest and most effective use of library resources. The library shall be a separate department or division and have its own budget. The relationship between the library and other departments shall be indicated on the institution's organizational chart.

2.2 The library shall be administered by a professional librarian possessing, at minimum, an ALA-accredited master's degree in library or information science or its equivalent, who reports to the appropriate administrative or academic officer. Library professionals should have faculty status and rank. The library director shall be a part of the institution's planning process, including curriculum development. The responsibilities and authority of the library professionals, as well as procedures for appointment, shall be defined in writing.

2.3 The library should be administered according to sound management principles, using needs assessments, evaluations, cost studies, and research results as a part of library planning. To evaluate program effectiveness, outcomes should be measured against predetermined goals and objectives. The library director shall be responsible for the development and systematic review of a comprehensive policy and procedure manual. The goals and objectives of the library shall be included in it.

2.4 A library committee shall be appointed to advise the library director. The committee should act as a liaison with users and assists in formulating policies and programs. Committee composition shall represent a cross-section of faculty, students, and administration. The library director shall be a member.

To top of page 3. Staff

3.1 The library staff shall be qualified by education, experience, and training to carry out the library's goals. Brief summaries of education and skills required upon hiring should be included in the professional and nonprofessional position descriptions. The staff should be of adequate size, with a flexible organizational structure that can change in response to the planning process. A generally accepted ratio of support to professional staff is two or three support staff members for each professional [1].

3.2 The library broadens the ability of library personnel to meet changing needs and improves expertise through recruitment, training, and continuing education.

3.3 Librarians shall participate in local, regional, and national library and other professional development groups, as appropriate.

3.4 Library policies and procedures concerning staff shall be in accord with institutional personnel policies. The library enhances recruitment and retention of high-quality staff by monitoring institutional salaries and benefits to ensure that library staff is treated equitably.

To top of page 4. Collection

4.1 The library's collections shall comprise all appropriate types of recorded information, including, but not limited to, print materials in all formats, audiovisual materials, sound recordings, computer programs, graphics, three-dimensional materials, and multimedia kits.

4.2 The collections shall be current and relevant to the needs of the users and the programs of the institution. They shall be frequently evaluated against recent bibliographies and other standard guides.

4.3 The library shall maintain a written resource development policy to guide the selection and deselection of materials.

4.4 The collection shall be organized in a manner that provides easy access for users by author, title, and subject. The National Library of Medicine Classification System, Medical Subject Headings, and Chiropractic Subject Headings are recommended.

To top of page 5. Services

5.1 The librarians shall manage information services that support the educational, clinical and research programs of the institution.

5.2 The library staff shall actively publicize the scope, nature, and availability of the services it offers. They shall provide aids, such as directional signage and instructions for using equipment, to help clientele identify and use items in the collection relevant to their information needs.

5.3 Basic services shall include

  • user orientation
  • current awareness
  • ready reference
  • computer and manual bibliographic searching
  • interlibrary loan
  • document delivery
  • photocopy facilities
  • student computing (unless provided elsewhere on campus) and assistance in the use of all equipment

5.4 Based on user needs and size of staff, other services may include

  • bibliographic instruction
  • AV equipment distribution and production
  • provision of acquisitions lists
  • instruction on electronic storage and retrieval of information

The library's instruction programs shall be designed to teach library users how to locate, evaluate, and manage information quickly and conveniently. These programs shall make full use of technological advancements to encourage their use.

5.5 Library materials of all types and formats that can be circulated without jeopardizing their preservation or availability shall be circulated to qualified users. The librarian reserves the right to restrict circulation of materials if they are needed to support reference, reserve, and other services.

5.6 Hours of public access to the collections and study facilities shall be consistent with reasonable demand.

To top of page 6. Facilities

6.1 The library shall provide secure and adequate housing for its collections and ample, well-planned space for users and staff. It shall provide sufficient space for administration of resources, services, and programs. The size of the library shall be influenced by the college enrollment, the size of the library staff, and the nature and extent of the library collections and services. It shall be easily accessible to all users and have sufficient space and seating for students and researchers.* There shall be plans for future growth.

6.2 Consideration must be given to any present or future requirements for equipment (wiring, cabling, etc.) associated with automated systems or other applications of library technology.

To top of page 7. Budget

7.1 The library's operating and capital budgets shall be adjusted annually to reflect changes in library programs and services, size of student body, instructional methods, new technologies, research and publishing activities for outreach programs, and inflationary trends. At least 4% of the institution's total budget shall be apportioned to the library. A higher percentage shall be apportioned if the library is also responsible for audiovisual production and services.

7.2 The library director shall play an integral part in the budgeting process, with responsibility for preparing and submitting the library budget. The library director shall have the authority to apportion funds and initiate expenditures within the approved library budget and in accordance with institutional policies.

7.3 The budget shall contain allocations for, but not limited to, the following

  • salaries
  • print and non-print materials
  • computer searching
  • interlibrary loans
  • binding (or its substitute)
  • equipment
  • supplies
  • photocopying
  • continuing education
  • travel

7.4 The library director shall be accountable for the expenditure of library funds.

To top of page 8. Cooperative Agreements

8.1 To augment its resources, the library shall maintain cooperative agreements with other libraries and networks. These agreements shall be documented, with the points of agreement specifically defined.

To top of page Note

* Early standards of the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), the official accrediting body for chiropractic education in the United States, called for library seating to equal a minimum of 25% of the student body plus 10% of the faculty and staff. Although these standards have been superseded by less quantitative ones, this ratio stands as a useful guide for chiropractic libraries.

To top of page Reference

  1. Darling, L., ed. Handbook of medical library practice, v.3. Chicago, IL: Medical Library Association, 1988:255-6.

To top of page Definition of Terms

Must or Shall: Indicates an imperative need or a duty; an essential or indispensable item; mandatory.

Should: Indicates the recommended manner to obtain the standard; highly desirable.

May or Could: Indicates freedom or liberty to follow a suggested alternative.

Standard: Offers a rule or basis of comparison established in measuring or judging capacity, quantity, quality, content, and value; criterion used as a model or pattern.

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