KTH Library Acquisition Development Policy 2024

The Acquisition Development Policy is part of KTH Library’s Collection Strategy. The strategy will also include a Collection Management Plan and a Collection Care and Conservation Plan.

The Acquisition Development Policy is revised annually and approved by the KTH Library management. 

Acquisition principles for KTH Library collections

KTH Library is committed to supporting KTH’s research and education with relevant and representative collections of information resources. Priority is given to acquiring and providing access to information resources on KTH’s core subjects: Science, Technology, Architecture, Industrial economics, Community planning, History and Philosophy. Information resources on other subjects than these will only be acquired in exceptional cases. Factors such as Equality, Sustainability, Internationalization and Digitalization are taken into account in the acquisition work.

Acquisitions at KTH Library are user-centered. The collection development is based on user dialogue and analysis.

Books and magazines are primarily acquired in electronic format as it increases accessibility by being site-independent and can provide fast and simultaneous access to the material. This also applies to course literature.

KTH Library always strives for the right to ownership and unlimited use of the library’s collections when possible. For electronic resources, this means access to acquired material also after the subscription has ended (PTA), as well as generous terms of use regarding downloads, transcripts, public use of the library’s premises and interlibrary loans. The conditions above are taken into account when negotiating with suppliers of information resources.

The aim is that all resources acquired by KTH Library are integrated and searchable in the library’s search service Primo.

KTH Library primarily acquires literature in Swedish and English – other language areas only if necessary.

KTH’s publication

In order to make KTH’s research accessible, all publications made by a KTH employed researcher must be registered in the publication database DiVA.

Doctoral dissertations and licentiate theses are posted and published in DiVA at least three weeks before the dissertation or licentiate seminar. In connection with this, the author must also submit one printed copy to the library’s collection.

Open Science

KTH Library is working for a transition to Open Science and therefore prioritizes contract models that support that movement. The goal is for all scientific articles to be openly accessible to all, and for the cost models to be based solely on publication.

User groups and access at KTH

Researchers, students and employees at KTH all have access to the library collections. Physical material through loans or reading on site, and the electronic via IP number. The public has the same opportunity to access the physical collections. However, due to license limitations, the public can only get access to electronic resources on site, i.e. at the library premises.

Media budget

Subscriptions and agreements are reviewed annually and evaluated based on price and user statistics.

Proposals for new acquisitions, closures and funds for special initiatives must be estimated in relation to priorities at KTH, budget situation and the transition to open science.

The employees who work with the acquisition process have a mandate to make decisions about individual small purchases. Major acquisitions are first prepared by employees and then authorized by the budget manager.

Purchase proposal

Purchase proposals from researchers, students and employees at KTH are prioritized. Other users can submit proposals, but the library’s mission to support KTH research and education is always takes priority.

Acquisitions and agreements

Electronic resources (books, databases, digital archives and magazines) constitute approximately 99 % of the media budget. In addition to electronic resources, KTH Library purchases physical books when needed and has continued to have a few subscriptions in paper form. Purchases are supplemented by inter library loans or document provider services.

KTH Library makes license agreements for e-resources in association with the National Library of Sweden and the BIBSAM consortium. KTH Library strives to participate in BIBSAM’s procurements. Where BIBSAM cannot offer national agreements, KTH Library signs its own agreements directly with suppliers.

Through electronic package deals and consortium purchases, the e-portfolio can become broader in terms of subject matter than would be possible with individual selections of epublications.

Individual books are primarily purchased through state-procured suppliers. If a specific book cannot be obtained via these, the book will be purchased from an antiquarian or an independent supplier.

If a book or magazine is available in electronic format in the collections, a printed version of the same material will not be purchased. Printed material can, however, be supplemented by an electronic version if required.

Open access material within KTH’s core subjects are gradually made retrievable in the library catalog.

KTH Library is not committed to acquire fiction, film or newspapers. KTH Library purchases occasional fictional titles that can be linked to specific events at KTH.

Gifts and donations

KTH Library only considers donations that can be linked to KTH’s core subjects or to KTH’s history. KTH Library reserves the right to freely dispose of donations.