Standard 5.A

Description

The primary purpose for library and information resources is to support teaching, learning, and, if applicable, research in ways consistent with, and supportive of, the institution’s mission and goals. Adequate library and information resources and services, at the appropriate level for degrees offered, are available to support the intellectual, cultural, and technical development of students enrolled in courses and programs wherever located and however delivered.

TESC Library and Information Resources (LIR) are interconnected deeply with the academic mission of the college through a library faculty rotation system and prominence in the academic administration, leading to a strong interdisciplinary teaching mission which determines the design of services and facilities. See

5.A.1 The institution’s information resources and services include sufficient holdings, equipment, and personnel in all of its libraries, instructional media and production centers, computer centers, networks, telecommunication facilities, and other repositories of information to accomplish the institution’s mission and goals.

LIR is generally well-funded in recognition of the emphasis of independent learning in a fluid curriculum. See

5.A.2 The institution’s core collection and related information resources are sufficient to support the curriculum.

Consortial arrangements have massively expanded journal holdings and access to monographic sources needed by the independent learner, complementing good core collections, with recent emphasis on media collections other than print which need to be stabilized. Inflation remains a concern. See

5.A.3 Information resources and services are determined by the nature of the institution’s educational programs and the locations where programs are offered.

This is the strongest characteristic of LIR developed with intensive connection to the curriculum. See

Off-campus programs are well-served through intensive face-to-face instruction and enhanced on-line access. See