About our collections
Our collections are:
- Digital by preference to provide 24/7 global access to multiple concurrent users
- Shaped by our RMIT user community via patron-driven and evidence-based acquisition programs, and by requests from students and academic staff
- Relevant, current, and authoritative.
We manage and review our collections continuously by:
Evaluating subscriptions annually for performance and return on investment. Factors such as cost per use, level of citations from and articles by RMIT authors, uniqueness of content and accreditation requirements are all taken into consideration. Low-performing titles are cancelled to allow newly requested subscriptions to be taken up.
Reviewing all print subscriptions every 5 years for potential transfer to digital format. Analysis of license conditions, cost and access requirements are considered in these transfers.
Analysing data on past usage of similar collections and turnaway data, where available, before purchasing e-book collections, digital journal backfiles and other datasets. This is to ensure we are purchasing materials that will support our users and show a high return on investment.
Weeding the collections to maintain currency and manage space. We will retain the last copy of any book or journal held except for superseded editions of textbooks. The last copy held may be digital with permanent, archival access in place.
We champion open initiatives where relevant to support RMIT programs, academics and students.
Gifts and donations
All gifts are assessed for relevance to RMIT’s Learning, Teaching and Research programs, and for currency, condition, uniqueness and value to the RMIT Community.
- Gifts which meet the above criteria will be gratefully received and added to the collection.
- Gifts which do not fit these criteria will be discarded, passed to other libraries or RMIT students.
Special Collections and archives
- Physical materials which meet the criteria for the Library’s Special Collections are permanent holdings of long-term value to the RMIT collection. These are housed in the distributed Special Collections Rooms with restricted access designed to preserve materials while still allowing access to researchers.
- Material housed in the Digital Archive system meets the criteria for permanent archival preservation are permanent holdings of long-term value to the RMIT collection in digital format.
- RMIT University Archives hold the records that are evidence of the functions and activities performed throughout RMIT and its predecessor Institutions.
