You're invited to our Open House!

Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 10AM - 2PM

x

Library Staff & Policies

LIBRARY SERVICES

Pick from a wide range of services that the library offers.

GO

 

COLLECTIONS & RESOURCES

The library offers access to a collection of print and electronic resources across various disciplines to support learning, teaching, and research at Ambrose. 

 

 

 

 

VISIT THE RESOURCES

 

AMBROSE ARCHIVES

In addition to historical records of Ambrose University and its predecessors, the archives currently houses records for The Alliance Canada and the Church of the Nazarene Canada. 

GO

 

Library Staff

Ambrose Library staff are happy to help with library and research questions. Feel free to stop by during business hours or send us an email!

Patricia Neufeldt
University
Librarian
patty.neufeldt@ambrose.edu

Kim Kissack
Public Services
Librarian
kim.kissack@ambrose.edu

Technical Services
Coordinator

 

Library Policies

Collection Development Policy
A. Purpose

To ensure that the library articulates as clearly as possible its mission vis-à-vis the development of its collections and that it fulfills that mission as efficiently as possible.

B. Scope

This policy applies to the library’s physical and electronic collections and encompasses both selection and de-selection.

C. Policy Details

Mission Statement

The goal of the Ambrose Library is to acquire, organize, preserve, interpret, and provide access to information resources that support the educational and research programs of Ambrose University and to assist Ambrose in fulfilling its mission and objectives. The Ambrose Archives, which is administered by the library, serves as the official repository for the institutional records of Ambrose University and its predecessors, the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada (CMAC), and the Church of the Nazarene Canada (cf. Ambrose Archives Mandate Statement).

Relationship of Mission Statement to Library Objectives

The Ambrose Library has as its primary clientele the students, faculty, and staff of Ambrose University and Ambrose Seminary. Secondary clientele include the students and faculty of those institutions with which the library has concluded reciprocal borrowing agreements or service contracts, consortia to which the library belongs, and the ministerial staff of local CMAC and Nazarene churches. To a lesser degree, the library also seeks to serve the general populace of the Calgary area.

To meet the educational and research needs of its primary clientele, the library acquires and organizes print, media and electronic resources; provides instruction and assistance in finding and using library materials; and promotes the development of consortia for the collaborative use of library resources. The Collection Development Policy sets forth guidelines for the development of on-site and virtual collections that will support the mission of Ambrose University

Selection Criteria

The following criteria will be kept in mind when considering any work for inclusion in the collection:

The availability of library materials in nearby libraries will be a major consideration in ordering infrequently-used non-digital works.

Statement on Academic Freedom

The Library is the main information resource for the educational needs of the students and faculty of Ambrose University. Therefore, its collection consists of materials reflecting a variety of perspectives, both Christian and secular. Although some materials may not reflect the viewpoints and commitments of Ambrose University, they are nevertheless included in order to foster an understanding of other perspectives and to provide the alternative vantage points necessary for the development of critical thinking and research.

Non-English Materials

Works in languages other than English are purchased if they are needed in connection with the classes given at Ambrose University, or if they provide information unavailable in English language sources.

Multiple Copies

The Library will normally purchase only one copy of a given work. The number of copies may be increased at the discretion of the University Librarian.

Paperbacks

Given the choice of buying a cloth or a trade paperback edition of the same work, the Library will, for the sake of economy, acquire the paperback edition.

E-books

The library will seek to purchase perpetual access to the electronic versions of required readings for online courses. The library will also acquire subscriptions to omnibus collections of e-books to provide retrospective collection support for those subject areas for which the library’s print holdings are currently weak. In the event that a paper volume to be ordered is duplicated in an omnibus collection, the library will nevertheless order the paper volume (given the relative instability of omnibus e-book collections).

Microforms

The microform edition of a given work is purchased only when it is unavailable in any other format.

Donations

It is the policy of the Library not only to purchase such materials as may be useful in fulfilling the objectives of Ambrose University and Ambrose Seminary, but also to encourage gifts of materials to the same end. Contributed materials are subject to the same standards of acceptance as those purchased.

Donations that do not conform to the Library’s selection criteria are either returned to the donor at the donor’s request and expense, or sold, donated, exchanged, or discarded at the discretion of the University Librarian.

Periodicals

Preference in selection will be given to those periodicals for which electronic full-text versions and comprehensive indexes are available. However, if a program head determines that an electronic aggregator’s embargo period is unacceptably long, then the library will also acquire paper edition of the journal in question. Likewise, the library will also acquire paper subscriptions to essential journals that are available only in that format.

In addition to those periodicals required for the educational and research needs of its primary clientele, the Library also subscribes to a limited number of magazines for leisure reading.

The Process of Selection

The University Librarian will constantly scrutinize the collection so as to discover those areas that need strengthening and to ensure that the collection develops according to the needs of the curriculum. The University Librarian also coordinates the selection process and collaborates closely with teaching faculty in the development of the collection. The final responsibility and authority for the development of the collection resides with the University Librarian. Departmental acquisitions budgets that remain unexpended or unencumbered by the agreed upon deadline (normally two months before the end of the fiscal year) will be spent at the discretion of the University Librarian.

Deselection

From time to time, the University Librarian will, in collaboration with the faculty, deselect from the collection materials that no longer conform to the selection criteria set forth in the collection development policy. The University Librarian will have the final say as to which items will be removed from the collection. Weeded items will be sold, given away, or discarded at the discretion of the University Librarian.

Budgetary Constraints

The purchase of library materials is limited by the approved annual budget. In the event that the cost of requests will likely run significantly beyond the funds available, the University Librarian will order only those items that are urgently required and will delay all remaining orders until funds become available.

Collection Support of New or Enhanced Programs

A library impact statement (to be submitted to the appropriate dean and Curriculum Committee) will be required as part of the approval process for all proposed academic programs, or proposed enhancements to existing programs and courses. The originator of the program or course proposal will develop the statement with the University Librarian and discuss with the dean so as to determine whether the proposed funding for the program will adequately cover the costs of the necessary library resources.

Interlibrary Loan

The Library supplements its collection through interlibrary loan (ILL) but it will not use ILL to supply reserve, recommended, or core materials. Interlending is not to be regarded as an alternative to solid collection development in support of the curriculum, but rather as a means of expanding access to materials that lie outside the scope of what the library would reasonably be expected to hold. The chief function of ILL is to provide bibliographic items for specialized research.

Special Collection

The Special Collection has been established to provide an exhaustive collection of published materials relevant to the study of the history and thought of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and to provide a secure repository for rare or endangered library materials. Selection criteria:

The University Librarian will normally make every reasonable attempt to acquire a duplicate copy for the circulating collection of all items in the Special Collection.

Archives

As was noted above, the Ambrose Archives is the official repository for the institutional records of Ambrose University (and its predecessors), the CMAC and the Church of the Nazarene Canada. The Archives also collects the papers of prominent individuals or organizations associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and with the CMAC in particular (cf. Ambrose Archives Mandate Statement).

Community Borrowing Agreement
Account Setup Requirement

Privileges

Responsibilities

Limitations

Failure to comply with policies will be considered grounds for revoking Community Borrower account.

Ambrose Library Food Policy
Covered drinks are allowed, but all food must be enjoyed elsewhere on campus.
Book Donation Policy
Please see our Donating Books guide for information.
↑