Collection Information
Why UC Merced Library Does Not Put Required Textbooks in its Collection
- Textbooks are a university student’s basic tools. Students have a better chance of succeeding in their classes when they own personal copies of required textbooks.
- When a required textbook is kept in the library, it invariably ends up being monopolized. In effect, the library buys the textbook for one person and everyone else is out of luck.
- Library copies of required textbooks are never available when students most need them—right before tests and when assignments are due.
- Students who are physically unable to carry their textbooks with them can get assistance from the UC Merced Disabilities Services Center.
Why UC Merced Library Does Not have a Reserve Desk for Print-Format Material
- Print reserves are a form of information rationing. When a lot of people need the same information over a short period of time, having that information in print format means that some of those people are not going to get that information when they need it.
- Print reserves, which often end up being monopolized by one or two students, create an unhealthy sense of competition among students. Students have been known to monopolize reserve materials simply to get an edge on “the competition.”
- Ineffective as they are, reserve desks for print-format materials are extremely expensive to run in terms of staff time and cost of information resources.
- Print reserves give students the false impression that information placed on reserve will always be there whenever they need it; often, it is not.
- Instead of a print reserve desk, UC Merced Library provides Supplemental Course Resources in electronic format. These resources:
- Cannot be monopolized.
- Are available around the clock from any place with an Web connection.
- Can be used simultaneously by multiple students.
