The Don C. Locke Library at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College supports the mission of the College by providing resources that meet the curricular and co-curricular needs of students, faculty, staff, and the broader A-B Tech community.
Materials are acquired in a wide variety of formats, including print and electronic books, audiovisual materials, and other electronic resources.
The development and assessment of the Library’s collections is a collaborative process among Librarians, Academic Deans, Division Chairs, and Faculty.
The Library recognises faculty as subject matter experts and strongly encourages them to recommend materials in all formats that support their programs.
Librarians evaluate and recommend electronic databases to enhance academic programs and work with faculty to assess their relevance.
Final responsibility for the Library’s collections rests with the Director of Library Services.
The Library acquires resources to support the curricular needs of the College using the following criteria:
- Importance and relevance to the curriculum and instructional needs
- Faculty recommendation or request
- Accreditation (SACS) requirements
- Professional status and reputation of the source or author
- Licensing requirements and access restrictions
- Patron needs, including those of specific populations
- Authority, accuracy, and currency of content
Librarians consult a variety of sources to identify materials appropriate for the collection, including professional journal reviews, publisher catalogs, and bibliographies from professional associations and subject-specific lists.
Funding availability is always a determining factor. The Library carefully evaluates cost-effectiveness, current holdings, and alternative options when considering high-cost purchases or subscriptions.
The Library generally purchases only one copy of each selected item. Multiple copies are acquired only when justified by documented or anticipated demand. While materials are primarily in English, resources in other languages may be purchased to support language instruction at the College. The collection also reflects the cultural and demographic diversity of the College community.
Textbooks are not routinely purchased for courses. However, instructors may place student editions (not instructor editions, due to copyright restrictions) on reserve for in-library use or limited checkout.
All audiovisual materials purchased for student or faculty use must comply with state and federal disability laws, including open or closed captioning or other accessibility features as required.
The Library supports leisure reading and lifelong learning for all patrons. As budget allows, materials of general interest are selectively acquired in print or electronic format, including:
- Popular fiction and non-fiction (e.g., how-to, DIY, and personal development)
- Popular biographies/memoirs
- Popular magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals
- Films, documentaries, and television programs
The Library may accept gifts and donations of books or DVDs based on the following conditions:
- Materials must be in good physical condition.
- Books must be free of markings, highlighting, or other defacement.
- Materials must support the College curriculum or meet recreational reading criteria.
All donations become property of A-B Tech upon receipt. Librarians will evaluate and retain items that meet collection development criteria. Items not added to the collections may be sold, donated to other libraries or nonprofit organizations, recycled, or destroyed in compliance with North Carolina Administrative Code 23 2C.0403.
The Library will not accept:
- Out-dated materials
- Lab manuals or workbooks
- Magazines, journals, or newspapers
- Non-print materials (except popular DVDs)
The Library does not assign monetary value to donated items. Donors are responsible for determining value for tax purposes.
Individuals wishing to make a financial donation to supplement the college's allocation for library collections, resources, and services are invited to contact the A-B Tech Foundation. Contributors should indicate that their donations be designated for the library.
The Don C. Locke Library complies with all provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and its amendments. The Library supports the Fair Use doctrine (17 U.S.C. §107), which permits limited reproduction of copyrighted works for teaching, scholarship, and research.
Researchers are expected to respect and comply with U.S. Copyright Law and the Library’s license agreements in their use of the collections, while fully exercising their Fair Use rights. Questions regarding copyright and use of library materials should be referred to the Library Director.
The Library is responsible for providing materials that meet the needs of the College’s curricula, programs, and community interests, regardless of individual preference.
The Don C. Locke Library supports the American Library Association’s principles of intellectual freedom and the Freedom to Read Statement. While individuals may choose not to use specific materials, no one has the right to restrict others’ access to them.
Challenges to materials, whether physical or electronic, must be submitted in writing to the Director of Library Services. The written request must include:
- Name and contact information of the challenger (address, phone, email)
- Affiliation with A-B Tech
- Title of the material in question
- Detailed explanation of the challenge and proposed resolution
All challenges will have a thorough investigation, and the recommendation will be announced within 14 business days. Challenged materials will remain in circulation during the reconsideration process. In general, materials will not be removed on First Amendment grounds.
The collection is evaluated regularly to ensure it meets user needs and supports academic programs. Assessment results inform future selection and deselection decisions.
Weeding and deselection are essential to maintaining a relevant, accurate, and accessible collection. Outdated, worn, or obsolete materials should be systematically removed.
Faculty, in collaboration with Librarians, are encouraged to review subject-specific areas and recommend withdrawal of outdated items or suggest replacements.
Factors considered in deselection include:
- Accuracy and currency of content
- Usage of the item as indicated by the circulation record
- Physical condition of the item
- Faculty and student feedback
- Availability of newer editions
All withdrawn materials are managed according to North Carolina Administrative Code 23 2C.0403. Discarded materials may be sold, donated to other libraries or nonprofit organizations, recycled, or destroyed.
Library materials are funded through institutional allocations and, when available, grants or special funds. Funds are distributed equitably across disciplines based on program size, course enrollment, and identified needs.
Librarians review ongoing subscriptions and database renewals annually for cost-effectiveness and usage.
The A-B Tech Library Archives collects materials of historical and/or cultural value generated by and for the administration, academic departments, faculty, staff, special programs, and student organizations. This includes course catalogs, photographs, artifacts, official records, correspondence, papers, and publications.