The Burgess Library’s goal is to provide material needed by students to complete their assignments, studies,and explorations. If we do not own the material or cannot provide electronic access to it, we can use document delivery or interlibrary loan, or purchase it. Make suggestions about adding materials by sending a general email to smclibrary@smcsc.edu.
The library bases its purchase decisions on whether it meets the support of the undergraduate curricula. While we support faculty research needs, items are primarily purchased for faculty and staff if the library staff believes that the materials in question will benefit undergraduate students.
While the library will collect some popular or general interest materials as they relate to the research needs of students, its status as an academic library prevents it from maintaining a large collection of popular works typically found in a public library. Patrons are invited to visit one of the many nearby Spartanburg County Public Library locations, as well as to utilize SMC’s interlibrary loan system to acquire materials not in the college’s collection.
Providing access to materials is the key component of the Burgess Library’s philosophy. Access is obtained through acquiring a core library collection on site and making the widest possible use of all resources available through networking with other college and university libraries, other South Carolina libraries, consortia, and all available online networks and resources both national and international.
All materials acquired by Burgess Library should reflect resource needs of the college. This basic principle will determine such fundamentals as type, format, quantity, and scope of resources to be acquired.
The library may consider accepting gifts and donations of books and media depending on several factors:
The library will not accept donations of the following:
The library does not and cannot place any value on materials donated to the college. Values of gifts for tax purposes must be determined by the giver in consultation with his/her tax accountant or attorney. Acknowledgment of the gift will be limited to a letter stating that the giver gave X type of material to the library on a specific date. For more information, contact the Library Director.
The principles of intellectual freedom as outlined in the Library’s Bill of Rights of the American Library Association shall be adhered to in the selection of library materials.
Because Burgess Library encourages the free exploration of ideas in the pursuit of knowledge and truth, we will make available study materials that represent a broad range of thought. Controversial views are to be investigated and thoughtfully debated, not silenced.
Items selected should represent equally all views of a controversial issue.
Censorship of materials held in the library or under consideration for inclusion by individuals or organizations seeking to control the dissemination of public information will be challenged.
