Rooted in its Catholic heritage and continuing the 450-year-old Jesuit tradition of educational excellence, Spring Hill College forms students to become responsible leaders in service to others.
We offer our students a thorough preparation for professional excellence; and we strive to awaken mind and spirit to the pursuit of truth and to the ever-deepening appreciation of the beauty of creation, the dignity of life, the demands of justice and the mystery of God's love.
In our community of living and learning, we are committed to the Jesuit tradition of "cura personalis," that is, a care for the spiritual, social, and intellectual growth of each person.
Through informed dialogue with the world's cultures, religions and peoples, we promote solidarity with the entire human family.
And true to the Catholic and biblical tradition, we nurture both the personal and social dimensions of faith, seeking to draw our students into a deeper and more vital relationship with God.
The mission of the Burke Memorial Library is to support the Jesuit philosophy of learning and the liberal arts tradition that educates library users through information literacy, research, and technology. With the intent of preparing students to engage actively in the global community, the library provides access to a diverse collection of information resources and services. A place of learning, academics, and social space, the library strives to be a user-centered environment.
The Burke Memorial Library principally acquires and provides access to materials that support the curriculum and reflect the college’s Jesuit identity and liberal arts tradition. The library strives for excellence in advancing the College's teaching, research and service programs by anticipating information needs, providing access to resources, and promoting effective use of information by students, faculty, and staff.
The Library's Archives & Special Collections select and preserve material of local, regional, and Jesuit significance. The library also serves the public as a selective U.S. Government depository for the 2nd Congressional District of Alabama.
Materials are selected with a view toward supporting courses as described in the most current Spring Hill College Bulletin of Information and/or course syllabi. New course proposals require both faculty and Library Director certification that they have identified existing Library resources which support the course. Faculty and librarians collaborate to develop curated LibGuides and other student learning supports based on their collection analysis when the new course is proposed. Sources desired but not owned are placed on lists for possible future purchase as budgeted- or donor-funds are available. The Library Director is an ex officio member of the Curriculum Committee.
The goal is not to have a comprehensive collection of subject matters, but to have a representative collection of materials including both primary and secondary sources. Such materials may include print, electronic, audio/visual and other formats as appropriate. Generally, only one copy of a title is ordered, and the Library does not purchase textbooks, which students are expected to purchase for class use.
Collection priority has been placed on core undergraduate, English language materials that provide full access to the greatest number of users at all times. Discipline specific and graduate curriculum are also supported. Emphasis has been placed on electronic resources; however, this is not at the exclusion of print resources.
At this time, priority situations for eBook purchases are as follows:
The research interests of the faculty are supported and encouraged, but that support is provided in a measure consistent with the curriculum.
The Burke Memorial Library adheres to the College’s Academic Freedom policy (Faculty Manual) position governing censorship and intellectual freedom adopted by the Council of the American Library Association and published in the Association's Library Bill of Rights. Librarians are guided by these principles of intellectual freedom rather than political, religious, or personal biases in making selection decisions. Respectful of Catholic tradition, but supporting freedom of inquiry and intellectual tradition, the Library’s collections contain and will contain various opinions which apply to important, complicated, and controversial questions, including unpopular and unorthodox positions. Factual accuracy, effective expression, significance of subject, and responsibility of opinion are factors that are considered when materials are selected.
This policy serves as a guide for both Library and classroom faculty who participate in the collection development process, planning, and fair allocation of resources. Library faculty work with departmental liaisons to the Library & Information Resources Committee, directly with faculty, and with the Curriculum Committee to coordinate recommendations for materials to be purchased from library allocated funds or gift monies.
In general, priority is given to intellectual content of a resource. The Library makes every effort to balance purchasing power and curricular needs. The Library strives to purchase as many titles as possible with existing funds.
The Burke Library Collection Development policy is subject to pragmatic adaptations; and throughout the collection consideration of budget, space, and other practical limitations have led to variations in practice with regard both to languages and formats collected.
All materials purchased with library funds become College property, available for the use of the entire campus community. The principle of community use also applies to materials and electronic resources leased with library acquisitions funds. It is inappropriate to use library funds to acquire materials for the exclusive use of any group or individual. All physical materials purchased with library funds are housed within the Burke Memorial Library building; exceptions are at the discretion of the library director.
The College provides access to collections through both ownership and formal agreements. The intent of resource sharing at the Burke Memorial Library is to extend the range of publications available to all scholars in our academic community.
The Library’s current resource sharing and consortial agreements are with the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL), Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL), and Lyrasis. These and other consortial agreements expand access to databases and eBook collections at reduced cost and provide license management.
Reciprocal borrowing agreements are available through interlibrary loan (ILL). The Library conducts all transactions in accordance with the National Interlibrary Loan Code and Explanatory Supplement, the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, United States Code, Sections 107 and 108), CONTU Guidelines, and special interlibrary loan agreements with consortia libraries.
Librarians conduct an annual review of interlibrary loan requests to identify frequently requested and relevant materials to add to the collection.
The Library conducts regular collection maintenance; this includes weeding, shelf inventory, replacement of missing or damaged materials, and review of checked out materials.
The Burke Memorial Library has a Gift Policy (see Appendix) and accepts materials that are useful and relevant to the collection, provided there are no restrictions attached to the gifts regarding their disposition or location. Gifts can provide many valuable additions to the collection, but materials received will be evaluated using the same criteria as materials purchased. Nothing is added to the collection simply because it is a gift.
Collection assessment tools are used to determine our library resources are adequate for the curriculum. These include faculty and student surveys, comparative peer institution data, usage data, focus groups, interlibrary loan statistics, and review of new materials purchased.
Ongoing resource assessment in specific programs such as Teacher Education and Nursing is conducted to ensure the collections meet current and future program accreditation requirements.
Collection evaluation is an ongoing process. This document is reviewed and amended periodically to address the dynamic nature of library collection needs, formats, and budgets.
Last updated: November 2024; February 2025
Borrowing Policies and Time Limits For Library Collection
All currently registered Graduate Students, Undergraduates, Faculty, and Staff may borrow library materials. There is a set borrowing period for each category of borrowers.
Length of borrowing time (books):
14 Days = Undergraduates.
28 Days = Graduates, Part-time Faculty (adjuncts), and Staff.
One year = Faculty.
Length of borrowing time (videos):
3 Days = All patrons (faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students)
Book Limits:
15 books = Undergraduates, Graduates, Part-time Faculty, and Staff
Unlimited number of books = Faculty
Renewals:
Books may ONLY be renewed in person at the Circulation Desk in the library.
Your account must be CURRENT in the system and your campus ID must be
presented to staff for verification when borrowing or renewing library materials.