Selection Criteria

Parameters/criteria for assessing which items in the Mansfield Library general collection should be pulled and added to the Special Collections on level 4. These parameters are designed to do an analysis of the Mansfield Library’s general collection to determine which items are suitable to be taken from the general collection and re-located to Special Collections in an effort to enhance Special Collections and preserve unique/rare items that would be difficult to replace in the future. The parameters/ criteria for generating a report or list of potential items are listed below:

1. Items that are Montana and Northwestern Idaho specific small publications such as local memoirs, speeches and local histories with limited runs should be included. (held by fewer than 10 libraries)

2. The items should document the development and history of Montana and Northwestern Idaho including publications covering Native Americans, homesteading, farming, mining, logging, forestry, land management, conservation and scientific reports/studies.

3. Uniqueness/Scarceness: Selection should be based on the number of available copies (held by five or fewer institutions in World Cat) and the ability to replace copies if necessary.

4. Pamphlets (less than 50 pages) with a focus on the pacific northwest, Montana in particular, and which are held by fewer than 10 libraries.

5. Microfilm and State and Federal Government documents will be excluded from the analysis (exclude Level 1 if possible).

6. Check on items held by fewer than 5 libraries, or that are older than 1850.

6. Items can range from historic to contemporary as long as they meet the above criteria.