Library standards for teaching support
Minimum standards
There are established library standards for teaching support. It is essential that academic staff members make every effort to familiarise themselves with these standards.
For information on how academic and library staff at UNE can work together to achieve these standards, please see the page on meeting library standards for teaching support.
The Library standards for teaching support are:
1. Any book, journal article or other library item referred to in undergraduate teaching materials will be held by the UNE University Library.
The majority of students (including the majority of externals) now rely on the Library for library support. Undergraduate students, in particular, must be able to rely on the Library for all their library needs.2. Teaching material will include a call number for each library item students are expected to read or review.
The provision of call numbers allows off-campus students to include these details when making requests for loans or copies. This practice makes it much faster and easier for staff to locate items, thus reducing turn-around times and workloads.3. The UNE Library will hold one copy of the current edition of each prescribed book.
Indications are that an increasing number of students are unable or unwilling to purchase all of their prescribed books. The University Library does not encourage this attitude. The Library has, however, recognised the trend and the demand generated. A quality library service will provide ready access to current editions of prescribed books.4. Multiple copies of all library items refered to as further reading will be held by the Library.
Students are not expected to purchase any items beyond prescribed books. It is therefore clear that they need to be able to borrow such materials. For all students (including externals) this means borrowing them from the UNE Library. Free undergraduate access to other tertiary libraries around Australia is becoming increasingly rare.4. The number of copies held will be in accordance with Table 1.
Holding one copy of a book, audio tape or video referred to in printed teaching materials is not sufficient. Experience has shown that three (3) copies is the absolute minimum which will allow adequate access for students. This is particularly so when external students are enrolled in a unit.5. One copy of all journal articles/book chapters/etc refered to as further reading, whether held or not held in the original by the Library, will be lodged in the Reserve Collection.
If heavy use of an item means that it is off the shelf for most of the time, a serious problem arises for both students and library staff. The delays experienced by students in accessing this item are unacceptable, particularly as this problem can be resolved with thoughtful use of the Reserve Collection.
6. Only one copy of any book cited for a unit having external enrolments will be placed in Reserve Collection.
One copy of a book in Reserve Collection is sufficient to handle all but the most extreme of cases. To place more than one copy on Reserve produces no more than a marginal improvement in access for on-site students, while imposing severe restrictions on availability for off-campus students.
7. Eight (8) to ten (10) weeks is an acceptable delay between the receipt of an order by the Library and the placement of the corresponding volume on the shelves ready for loan.
Acquisition, cataloguing and processing of books is a complex task which always involves some delay. This is particularly true where items have to be sourced overseas. While it is true that the Library can obtain material more quickly on occasion, there is often an additional cost involved. This cost cannot be supported as a general rule without seriously affecting collection building in other areas.
Table of minimum requirements
To assist academic staff, a table has been prepared relating expected enrolments (both internal and external) to the required minimum number of copies of items recommended as further reading.
These figures are a guide to the absolute minimum requirements only.
| Expected enrolment | Copies required |
| 1 to 20 students | 3 (minimum) |
| 21 to 75 students | 4 (minimum) |
| 76 to 200 students | 5 (minimum) |
| 201 + students | 6–10 (minimum) |
Further information
If you have any further enquiries regarding library standards for teaching support, please contact Information Services Librarian.