Archives Collection Development Policy

The Hostos Archives collection development policy is a planning tool to guide department staff in making informed decisions on potential accessions. The collections development policy is therefore an essential component of the appraisal process through which materials are added to the collection. Equally important, the guidelines provided insure an appropriate balance between department resources and commitments.

Through a systematic archival management program, only those records which maintain historical, administrative, legal, and fiscal value are identified and retained permanently.

In order to add material to the collection items must:

• support the archives existing collections
• extend the archives strengths, interests and needs in a logical and rational manner
• support the institution’s curriculum and the academic interests of its students and faculty
• show a high ratio of use to volume and processing costs
• complement and reflect the ethnic population of Hostos and the immediate South Bronx community
• anticipate future needs and research interests

The decision to select and preserve records of historical value is the responsibility of the Hostos archivist and the Archives Advisory Committee. The purpose of collecting such records is to provide documentation of the development and growth of the college, including its functions of teaching and education, its role in the community, the activities of the students and alumni and the development of the physical grounds. The Hostos archives also acts as a repository of last resort for materials of local interest that might otherwise be destroyed.

Please note that the ability to accept donated collections includes consideration of financial support from the donor for processing the collection, preservation, and to house the material according to archival standards.

Materials that do not reflect the subject areas or types of materials collected by the Hostos archives may be returned or declined according to these guidelines. Collections may also be offered to a more appropriate repository.