I. Statement of purpose

B. Baylor University Libraries : The mission of the Baylor University Libraries is to provide graduate and undergraduate students, administrators, faculty and staff information and knowledge resources, print and electronic, appropriate to their curricular or research needs.


C. Baylor Collections of Political Materials : The mission of the Baylor Collections of Political Materials (BCPM) is to enhance the University Libraries' mission in the disciplines of political science, history, law, regional studies, and other social sciences with original source materials which document political leadership, the legislative process, political organizations, and rural politics within the context of the Central Texas region.
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II. Types of programs supported by the collection:

1. Materials collected and made available should further the research of the University faculty, staff, students, and visiting scholars in the areas of local, state, and national politics and government related to Central Texas.


2. To supplement the BCPM congressional collections, additional resources should be provided that support collection strengths in the fields of government and politics.


B. Exhibits :
1. As part of the BCPM, exhibits may be prepared for the glass cases in the foyer of the BCPM reading room. Exhibits may also be set up for other University Libraries display areas as requested.


2. Reproductions and duplicates may be used in off-campus exhibits with special permission.


C. Outreach :
1. The BCPM should attempt to further the use and development of the collection through increased public awareness of the nature and importance of the collections.


2. Awareness of the collections among the scholarly community may be encouraged in national databases such as RLIN, OCLC and NUCMC.


3. An attempt should be made to publicize recent acquisitions in news, professional, and popular publications.


D. Acquisitions : The BCPM acquires materials through donations and purchase.

1. Book purchases are financed by the BCPM acquisition's budget and are restricted to such supporting documentation as books, periodicals, and other types of background information on topics which are prominent within the manuscript collections.


2. Donations of materials are essential to maintenance and development of the library's holdings.


3. Current plans do not include applying for grants for special projects.


E. Preservation and security : Critical to the BCPM program is the preservation of research materials.
1. Collections will be stored in acid-free folders and containers in the W. R. Poage Legislative Library and Graduate Research Library building.


2. While the manuscript collections are non-circulating in closed stacks, the book collection should also become non-circulating in the future.


3. The BCPM staff should monitor the use of materials by researchers at all times in order to guard the safety and security of the materials.


4. Researchers will be expected to sign and follow the Guidelines for Use of Materials.
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III. Clientele served by the BCPM: The policy of the BCPM is to make all materials available to researchers on equal terms, subject to the appropriate care and handling of the materials by the researcher and within limitations set by the donor in the Deed of Gift.

B. Undergraduate and graduate students : With proper identification and registration, all university students are encouraged to use the collections.


C. Faculty and staff : University faculty and staff are encouraged both to utilize the collections and to motivate students to make use of the collections.


D. Scholars : Visiting scholars including faculty, staff, and students of other universities are permitted to use the BCPM with proper identification and registration.


E. General public : With proper identification and registration, any individual who is engaged in legitimate research is permitted to use the collections.


F. High school students : After careful instruction and under close supervision, secondary students may use the collections.


G. Professional researchers : Legal, para-legals, members of the press, genealogists, or other professional researchers are not to receive preferential treatment at the expense of other patrons.
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CD Introduction | CD Outline | CD Bibliography