Suggest New Resources

Books

To request books for the library collection, complete our online book request form

We review all book requests and make purchasing decisions based on collection needs, curriculum relevance, and available budget.

Textbooks

The library does not purchase textbooks due to publisher licensing restrictions. Textbooks must be ordered through the campus bookstore.

Electronic Resources (Databases, Journals, E-Book Packages)

Electronic resource subscriptions represent ongoing multi-year financial commitments and require a formal review and approval process. 

Review the guidelines and fill the form linked below. 

Resource subscriptions represent an ongoing financial commitment for the AUC Libraries and therefore require a multi-step review and approval process. This process differs significantly from one-time purchases, such as books, and ensures that each request aligns with curriculum needs, institutional priorities, and budget availability.

These resources often require multi-year commitments, with costs that tend to increase at a rate exceeding the library's overall budget capacity. To ensure sustainability, the library must secure funding to support any new subscriptions for a minimum of two years. After this period, subscription decisions will be based on an analysis of annual resource usage and relevant criteria, determining whether to continue or discontinue access.

All new School requests for Library resource subscriptions will be reviewed by the Library E-Resources Committee which meets regularly to evaluate proposed additions to the library's electronic resources. The Library E-Resources Committee will consist of the Director for Collections, the Associate Director for Continuing Resources, the Director of Operations and Finance, and the Dean of Libraries. When needed, subject librarians may be invited to provide input on specific resources relevant to their areas of expertise. When possible and relevant, trial access is arranged during semesters to allow faculty, students and librarians to assess the resource's value and usability.

Important Notes:

• Submitting the AUC Schools Request Form for Library Resource Subscription does not guarantee
  subscription. It initiates the formal review process outlined below.
• Requests may be deferred or declined due to cost or lack of funding.
• All new resource subscriptions require a demonstrated need and broad academic support by the
  school requesting the resource.
• The review and renewal of resource subscriptions by the library e-resource committee is ongoing.
  Resources may be canceled after two years if usage is low or relevancy decreases.
• Funding ongoing resource subscriptions may limit the ability to acquire other resources.
   

Resource Suggestion and Approval Process

Requestor

1. Complete the AUC Schools Request Form for Library Resource Subscription, including subscription details and justification. The request is submitted through the Department by the Chair and then forwarded to the School Dean/Associate Dean for endorsement.
2. If the request supports a new academic program, it must undergo the New Program Assessment and Evaluation process, which includes a library review of existing resources and recommendations for any additional database subscriptions needed.

Library

1. The library's collection team receives and reviews the submitted request, including School Dean's endorsement.
2. The library's collection team will gather detailed information about the resource and submit the request form to the Library E-resources Committee for review.
3. The Library E-resources Committee grants final approval as per the evaluation criteria:

• Input from departments on the value of the resource, its support for curriculum and/or research needs
• The resource scope, cost structure format and licensing model
• Anticipated usage.
• Financial sustainability.
• Assess potential duplication or content overlap with existing subscriptions.
• Evaluate the potential for cancelling or replacing existing subscriptions to offset costs
• For re-subscriptions or reinstating former subscriptions, the usage history from the last 2 years will be reviewed (where available).

Evaluation Process following Subscription

Because these resources represent ongoing financial commitments that typically increase annually with inflation, the Library E-Resources Committee will conduct an annual review of all subscribed resources. The evaluation process ensures that each resource continues to meet the University's academic and research needs. Several factors inform this review, including cost, usage statistics for the past 2 years, cost per use, annual percentage increase, content overlap, alignment with collection priorities, etc.
 

Cancellation/Deselection Process

Resources may be cancelled if:

• Budget constraints necessitate reductions.
• The resource is no longer available, maintained, or updated.
• Content is no longer reliable or relevant to academic and research needs
• Analysis of a minimum of two years of subscription usage will allow the library to identify resources
  with low usage, helping inform decisions about renewal, cancellation, or reallocation of funds.
• Content is duplicated in other subscriptions or open-access resources.
   

Timeline

In alignment with the University's budget cycle, the Library is required to submit its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year by January. To ensure adequate time for evaluation, analysis, and financial planning of any new resource subscriptions, all completed and approved requests must be submitted to the Library no later than first week of October.
 

Note: In most cases, newly approved resources will not be activated until July 1 of the subsequent fiscal year.