University Library purchases the majority of its general collection books through on demand requests from users. Any IU Indianapolis affiliate primarily served by the Library may initiate a purchase request. Such requests can be initiated via the Books on Demand records available in IUCAT or the purchase request form.
Subject librarians may receive purchase requests directly from faculty in their subject area(s). These requests can be submitted via the Purchase Request Form. Requests should include patron’s username, and they will be handled in the same way as any other On Demand purchase request with the requesting faculty member being notified when the item is available for their use. If a request is for a title which will be required for class use, see the section on class materials. Subject librarians will only be contacted if the purchase is not possible.
Other Monographic Purchase Requests
Subject librarians may also wish to request the purchase of books for the general collection within their subject area(s) that they feel fit the general selection criteria outlined above but that are not part of the Books on Demand pool. These purchase requests may be submitted via the Purchase Request Form. In many cases, these requests will not be purchased but will become additions to the Books on Demand program. Subject librarians are encouraged to consider why the title did not appear in the Books on Demand pool and adjust their profile as necessary.
Faculty Monographic Course/Textbook Requests
Faculty can request that the Library purchase books that are required reading for courses. These are books that include, but are not limited to, textbooks. However, textbook purchases are limited to what the budget will allow per academic year and request approval is at the discretion of the Library considering the expense of the textbook, the impact (number of students) the purchase would have, and whether it meets accessibility standards required by regulations. The Library does not collect all textbooks for the general collection because of the enormous expense of buying all textbooks, the inability to provide textbooks for all students, and the rapidity with which they become outdated. Textbooks may already be part of the collection when they are classic works or works of fiction. Purchase exceptions may be made for titles deemed to have lasting value to the library collection. Instructors may request that textbooks from within the library’s collection or their own be put on reserve for student use.
The Library will always prefer online texts and will purchase an appropriate number of simultaneous user licenses for the class size. Requests should be made by completing and submitting a Purchase Request Form. Subject librarians may complete the form for the faculty member but should include the faculty member’s name in the request.
The Library encourages the use of Open Educational Resources and supports faculty in the selection and development of open and affordable textbooks and classroom materials.
Juvenile Collection
University Library has a juvenile book collection, which was assimilated into the Books on Demand program.