Collection Management Policy:
Language & Speech Science (LaSS) Library
Section 1:
Section 2:
Section 3:
Purpose and description of the collection
Acquisition priorities and decisions
Retention and preservation policy
1. Purpose and description of the collection
1.1
Purpose
The main purpose of the LaSS library collection is to support the teaching and
research needs of the Division of Psychology & Language Sciences (PALS),
in particular in the areas of Language Sciences and Linguistics. Parts of the
collection are also relevant to the teaching and research activities of the
Faculties of Brain Sciences and Biosciences.
Its secondary purpose is to provide an information and enquiry service to
professional Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), as the National
Information Centre for Speech-language Therapy (NICeST).
The collection supports courses accredited by the British Psychological
Society and is periodically reviewed.
1.2
Readership and access
The main readership of the collection is students and staff of the Division of
Psychology & Language Sciences (PALS), in particular those attending taught
programmes in Psychology and Language Sciences, Linguistics and Speech
and Language Therapy, as well as research in Language & Communication,
Linguistics and, Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences.
In addition, the Library readership includes members of NHS trusts associated
with UCL, and members of the Royal College of Speech and Language
Therapists (RCSLT) with whom the Library has a Service Level Agreement.
This agreement includes student members, although it should be recognised
that UCL does not undertake to support courses taught at other institutions.
The library is also frequently used by students and staff of other University of
London institutions and by students and staff of City University’s Language &
Communication Science department. As a National Information Centre, there
is no fee for reference access to the collections, but this must be by prior
arrangement.
All members of the Library may access the print collections. UCL staff and
students have full access to the electronic resources to which Library Services
subscribes. NHS and RCSLT members and any registered visitors to the
library may access resources in Library Services’ electronic collection where
licences permit in-library use. There are dedicated computers for in-library
use of electronic resources, which are also accessible by registered visitors to
the library.
1.3
Description and holdings
1.3.1 Introduction
The LaSS library collection covers subjects including: language and
languages (written, spoken and signed); bilingualism; linguistics; phonetics;
psychology; special education; speech science; language disorders; and
voice. Most material is held onsite, apart from some non-current collections
(the Historical Collection, student projects over 5 years old, and relegated
books and journals), which are currently held at UCL Wickford Store and are
available on request.
1.3.2 Books
The book collection consists of approximately 8000 volumes. It is primarily a
teaching collection, supporting the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
in Language Sciences:
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BA Linguistics
BA Linguistics (International Programme)
BSc Psychology and Language Sciences
MSc Language Sciences (with specialisation in Language
Development)
MSc Language Sciences (with specialisation in Linguistics with
Neuroscience)
MSc Language Sciences (with specialisation in Neuroscience and
Communication)
MSc Language Sciences (with specialisation in Sign Language
Studies)
MSc Language Sciences (with specialisation in Speech and Hearing
Sciences)
MA Linguistics
MA Linguistics with a specialisation in Phonology
MA Linguistics with a specialisation in Pragmatics
MA Linguistics with a specialisation in Semantics
MA Linguistics with a specialisation in Syntax
MSc Speech and Language Sciences MSc
MRes Speech, Language and Cognition
MRes Applied Research in Human Communication Disorders
MPhil/PhD in Language and Communication
MPhil/PhD in Linguistics
MPhil/PhD in Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences
Doctorate in Clinical Communication Science
Research level texts are also purchased where relevant or recommended. In
addition, there is a Historical Collection in speech therapy comprising over
1500 books and pamphlets, which is currently held in offsite storage and is
available on request, for use in the library only. The collection also includes
resources for special education, such as games and children’s books, for use
in schools.
1.3.3 Journals
There are approximately 150 current print subscriptions in the collection, and
over 1700 bound volumes. These are for use in the Library only, and most are
available electronically to UCL staff and students, and to visitors to the library.
UCL Library Services provide access to approximately 10,000 journals online,
around half of which are relevant to medical and health subjects; see
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/ejournal/index.shtml for further details.
1.3.4. Tests
LaSS Library has a unique collection of approximately 750 assessment tests
and therapy materials for speech, language and communication development
and disorders. These are clinical instruments and restrictions apply on their
use: tests are only available to qualified clinicians or to students under clinical
supervision (in some cases, use is further restricted to registered
psychologists only). Tests may be used by PALS students in clinical
placements, and by staff for research and clinical work. Students are required
to sign a form agreeing to special conditions of use for tests. They can also be
used by fee-paying RCSLT members.
1.3.5 Other resources
The LaSS Library has a collection of approximately 250 videos and DVDs and
150 CD-ROMs, most of which may be borrowed for home viewing, although
there is a computer in the library for viewing/listening to DVDs and CDs. The
Library also holds copies of former UCLLS students’ final year dissertations,
plus a small number of PhD theses by UCLLS staff, for use in the Library only.
Student dissertations more than 5 years old are held in offsite storage and
available on request. The Photocopy Collection contains approximately 200
copies of articles recommended on reading lists but not otherwise held in
LaSS Library or available online.
1.4
Relationships with other collections within UCL
1.4.1 Book collections
Collections of materials in related subjects are held at the following UCL
libraries, and may be used by UCLLS students and staff:
Institute of Laryngology & Otology (ILO); RNID; Institute of Neurology; Institute
of Child Health; Main Library (pre-2007 linguistics and phonetics material);
Science Library (psychology); and all of the UCL Biomedicine & Health
libraries (general medicine).
1.4.2 Journal collections
The LaSS library is now the specialist library for phonetics & linguistics at UCL
and all current journals in these subjects have been moved to LaSS from the
Main Library. The Main Library retains a collection of older books and closed
journal
runs
in
these
subjects.
The UCL Science Library is the leading location for Psychology journals, so
these are no longer acquired at LaSS library.
1.4.3 Electronic collections
UCL Library Services subscribes to approximately 10000 electronic journals,
over half of which cover biomedicine. Hundreds of books in the fields of
science, technology and medicine are also available online, and many of
these can be found via the eUCLid catalogue. For further information about ebooks at UCL, see http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/ebooks/.
Relevant bibliographic databases available online include Medline, Embase,
AMED, BEI, CINAHL, HMIC, ERIC, NASEN, LABS, LLBA, PsycINFO,
Cochrane, and the ISI Science Citation Index.
1.5
Relationships with other collections outside UCL
UCLLS staff and students have full borrowing rights at the University of
London Library at Senate House, which has excellent collections in
psychology and social sciences. UCL staff have borrowing rights, and
students have reference only access, to the nearby Institute of Education.
However, there are no collaborative collection management arrangements
with them at the present time.
Staff and students have free reference access to the collections of the
Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, and also to
the collections of professional bodies on the basis of membership – these
include the British Medical Association and the Royal Colleges of Physicians
and Surgeons. Access to the British Library at St Pancras may be available on
application, and the library participates in the BL’s Document Supply and
Interlending scheme.
NHS staff also have access to a number of electronic books, journals and
online databases through the KA24 service.
2. Acquisition priorities and decisions
2.1
Responsibility for selection
The selection of materials for the LaSS Library is the responsibility of the Site
Librarian. Selections are made from reading lists, publishers’ catalogues and
web sites and email alerting services, in consultation with UCLLS academic
staff and with other UCL subject librarians. Recommendations are
encouraged from both staff and students, and suggestion forms are available
in printed and online formats.
The LaSS Library receives the following funds towards building the collection:
- an annual book fund allocation through Library Services;
- income generated from fines, book sales, and external membership
schemes.
2.2
Subjects collected
Subjects covering all aspects of speech and language sciences are collected,
including: language acquisition, phonetics, linguistics, bilingualism, sign
language, anatomy, neurology, audiology, special education, psychology,
communication disorders (aphasia, dyslexia, dysfluency, etc), and voice.
2.3
Priorities
2.3.1 Books
Top priority is given to purchasing all materials necessary to support the
courses taught (see 1.3.2, above) and all research and clinical work
undertaken at UCLLS. All recommended texts are acquired where in print.
The next priority is to purchase material which will enhance the collection’s
standing as the National Information Centre for Speech-Language Therapy,
and to ensure that the stock is as up-to-date and comprehensive as possible.
2.3.2 Journals and datasets
Decisions about new purchases are considered in the context of print holdings
at other sites, online availability and the outcome of bids for electronic
purchasing. Generally, any new subscriptions are funded either by the
cancellation of existing subscriptions, by virement from the book fund, or by
new monies in Library Services central funds. Any cancellations of journal
subscriptions are only made after full consultation with other UCL librarians
and UCLLS academic staff. Surveys of print journal use are undertaken in
order to inform these decisions.
A new titles wish-list is maintained by the Periodicals Department and there is
a similar arrangement for new datasets. Where additional funds become
available, priorities within the list are identified jointly by all medical site
librarians.
2.3.3. Tests
First priority is given to tests required for teaching programmes (such as those
required for student placements), and second priority is given to purchasing
new tests which have been recommended by UCLLS academic and clinical
staff. The Site Librarian will select other tests to augment the Collection in
consultation with academic staff.
2.4
Level
Books and journals are collected at undergraduate, taught postgraduate,
research and clinical practitioner level.
2.5
Language
Material will normally be collected in English, or in British Sign Language
(BSL) where appropriate.
2.6
Format and medium
Material is collected in print, CD-ROM, DVD, video and electronic format. For
books, paperback is usually preferred for economy. Print copies of texts will
normally be retained in addition to electronic versions. Print copies of
specialist journals are also retained, especially if electronic access is not
licensed for non-UCL visitors (including NHS and RCSLT members). This
permission is sought as standard for all new electronic subscriptions.
2.7
Collaborative collecting agreements
No agreements are currently in place. However, co-operative decisions are
made about electronic purchasing between all the medical libraries at UCL.
2.8
Multiple copies
Multiple copies of core texts on reading lists are acquired, and numbers
increased where demand is demonstrated to be high or as advised by
academic staff. To facilitate maximum access to such texts, Reference, Short
Loan (three-hour/overnight) and One-week loan periods are assigned. For
each core text there is a minimum of 1 reference copy, 1 Short loan copy and
5 one-week loan copies. For essential texts which are taught by one or more
courses, LaSS library aims to stock at least 1 one-week loan copy per 10
students on the course. This policy may be reviewed for very expensive items
(over £50).
The remaining stock is generally available for eight-week ‘standard’ loan
periods, except for reference items.
Tests are generally for reference use only but may be borrowed by
arrangement. When a test is required for clinical placements or teaching
purposes, extra copies are purchased and made available as one week loans.
Lost or worn items are replaced if still required for current teaching and
research, or relevant to the LaSS library’s specialist role.
2.9
Donations
Donations will be accepted in line with the criteria set out in the Library
Services Donations Policy [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/donations_policy.doc].
In general books will only be accepted if relevant to current or anticipated
courses, or consistent with the existing subject profile of the collection.
Incomplete journal runs are not normally accepted except to replace missing
or damaged stock. Material in a poor physical condition is not normally
accepted.
2.10
Exchange and deposit arrangements
There are no arrangements in place.
2.11
Material not collected
The LaSS Library does not acquire general psychology or medical material
(except for titles which are recommended on UCLLS reading lists), as these
subjects are collected by the Science and other medical libraries at UCL.
3. Retention and preservation policy
3.1
Review of the collection
The print collection will be reviewed and weeded periodically (at least every 2
years) by the Site Librarian, who will take decisions on retention, relegation to
store and disposal.
3.2
Use of open access space
Books for loan are held on open shelves in the LaSS Library. Reference and
short loan texts and photocopies, CD-ROMs and DVDs are held behind the
Issue Desk. Some relegated and historical books are held in Stores and are
available on request. All journals and videos are held on open access shelves.
Most of the Test Collection is openly accessible to all UCLLS Students and
staff, with the exception of certain psychology tests, the use of which is
restricted to registered psychologists. LaSS students’ dissertations from the
last 5 years are kept behind the Issue Desk, and are available (for library use
only) on completion of a Thesis Declaration form. Older projects are kept in
the Wickford library store and available on request.
3.3
Relegation
Lesser used books published before 1980 which are considered to have an
intrinsic value, will be relegated to the Library store or, if appropriate, to the
LaSS Historical Collection.
3.4
Retention and disposal
The current collection contains the most up-to-date knowledge. The current
and 2 or 3 most recent previous editions of student textbooks are normally
retained; earlier editions are discarded, although one copy of each may be
retained in the Historical Collection if sufficiently relevant. Levels of use and
the availability of duplicate copies at other UCL sites will also be taken into
account when assessing the retention of monographs.
Normally only one copy of a book will be retained in the Library Store. Any
valuable, unique or rare materials will be retained and may be placed in UCL
Special Collections. No more than one run of a journal will be kept in Store.
Items which are withdrawn from LaSS stock are sold to booksellers or to
library users, or donated to other library services, or discarded.
3.5
Preservation
The collection is included in the Library Services Preservation Policy
[http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/preserve.shtml ].
Collection Management Policy review procedures and dates
This policy will be reviewed and approved periodically by the LaSS Site
Librarian and the Chandler House Committee.
January 2009
Minor corrections made December 2014. Currently being reviewed. Please
contact Francine Wood (Acting Site Librarian) f.wood@ucl.ac.uk with any
queries.