TexShare Collection Development Policy
Updates approved by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission November 3, 2023.
Introduction and Collection Scope
TexShare is founded on the belief of Texas State officials and librarians that Texans’ health and wellbeing is furthered by efficient information exchange in all communities and institutions where quality teaching, research excellence, and lifelong learning are valued. The TexShare Databases program seeks to help meet the information needs of the residents of Texas, whether they are currently attending the state's colleges and universities or seeking information from their public libraries. TexShare enables community colleges, universities, libraries of clinical medicine, public libraries, and qualifying affiliate members to broaden the range of materials and services available to their patrons.
The TexShare Core Databases offer access to a wealth of material that is personally, professionally, and culturally enriching to Texans of all ages. Professional librarians select the TexShare databases by a process involving a statewide effort over an extended period of time. The purchase of electronic databases and ebooks by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) does not constitute an endorsement of the ideas or opinions expressed in the content of those databases and ebooks. Use of all library resources is governed by local library policies and procedures.
Program Administration
TexShare electronic resources are made available through appropriations from the Texas State Legislature, federal funds, and the collection of a membership participation fee from institutions that choose to join the TexShare Databases program.
Responsibility for Selection
Resources for inclusion in the TexShare Databases Program are selected by TSLAC staff, with input from members of the Electronic Information Working Group (EIWG) when needed. The working group is composed of professional librarians with experience in electronic resource acquisition and management. Membership in the working group is representative of TexShare member libraries. The current working group roster is available at https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texshare/databaseworking.html.
Selection Criteria
TexShare Databases
TexShare’s electronic full-text magazine and journal articles supplement resources available locally to participating institutions. Given the diversity of Texas libraries, the program is not intended to meet all the electronic information needs of all TexShare member libraries. The TexShare electronic resources collection provides access to broad, multi-topic, authoritative, full-text content for both advanced scholars and the general public.
Selection decisions are guided by these criteria:
- Membership Surveys
- Usage Statistics
- Database Content
- Vendor Reliability
- Best Value
Individual Libraries can participate in database selection by:
- Sending recommendations about databases to TexShare staff (comments are shared with the EIWG as needed)
- Sending comments and recommendations to the EIWG directly
- Filling out and submitting database surveys
- Sending comments throughout the statewide database trial period to the EIWG and TexShare staff
E-books
E-books included in the TexShare Databases Program are selected by TSLAC staff with input from the EIWG. E-book purchases are generally made on a subject basis. Reconsiderations are governed by local library policy and practice.
E-book selections are guided by the following criteria:
- Usage statistics
- Areas of subject need not met by other electronic resources
- Established subject areas of collection strength
- Titles available for consortial purchase from publishers
- Publisher licensing that advances each library’s efficient sharing of e-books
TexSelect
In addition to the databases and e-book content made available to TexShare Databases Program participants, TSLAC negotiates discounts (TexSelect discounts), when available, for the purchase/subscription of additional electronic resources by local libraries. These TexSelect discounts enable TSLAC to use the aggregated purchasing power of the state to help local dollars go further toward the selection of electronic resources to meet local needs.
Recommendations for TexSelect products will be made using similar criteria and procedures as for the TexShare Databases. Selection practices for TexSelect will accommodate selections that appeal to a smaller number of member libraries that are highly motivated to subscribe to specialized content. TexSelect products should be useful in more than one type of library, or provide unique content/indexing, and include commitment from the vendor for renewal of TexSelect discounts in future years.
Additional criteria are:
- Significant subscription discounts
- Content that supplements what is available through the TexShare Databases Program
Accessibility
As required by 1 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 213, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission complies with the State of Texas accessibility requirements for electronic and information resources.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission requires all vendors providing bids for Electronic and Information Resources to submit an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR). Once received, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission reviews for compliance with the State of Texas Accessibility requirements (based on the federal standards established under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973). Those not in compliance must provide a timeline for correction.
Reconsideration of Materials
TexShare provides resources that include differing points of view on controversial or debatable topics. TexShare does not promote a specific belief or viewpoint, and selection of an item or resource does not express or imply agreement or endorsement of an author’s opinion or perspective.
TSLAC welcomes feedback from members of the public, who may request the reconsideration of a selection decision by completing the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources” form located at https://www.tsl.texas.gov/texshare/texsharereconsideration. The form must be completed in its entirety and returned to the program coordinator at TSLAC. An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent within five business days.
Upon receipt of the completed reconsideration form, the item in question will be reviewed by TSLAC staff and additional reviewers if particular expertise is needed. The resource will continue to be available throughout the review. Reviewers will make recommendations based on the scope (Section I) and selection criteria (Section IV) outlined in this policy. TSLAC will provide a status update to the requestor during the review. After review, a recommendation to retain or remove will be presented to Director and State Librarian for approval and will be communicated to the requestor. The requestor may appeal the decision to the full Commission.