DKU library is committed to providing comprehensive support for the research, teaching, and learning activities of all faculty members and students. We highly value the resource requests submitted by each user and sincerely hope to assist in obtaining the necessary materials. We will evaluate all submitted requests and purchase resources that align with the collection development policy.
To respond more efficiently to various purchase and subscription suggestions and to maximize resource utilization within a limited budget, we have developed this guideline. Through this mechanism, we aim to ensure that every resource investment benefits as many users as possible, rather than catering to individual needs alone, thereby better serving the academic development of all users.
Please submit your resource requests to the library through the following methods:
The resources outlined in this guideline are as follows:
If the cost of the requested resources exceeds a specified amount, the requester is required to complete the “Expensive Resource Purchase Approval Form” providing a detailed justification for the request. The form must be reviewed by the subject librarian, who will provide comments, and then receive final approval from the university librarian before the procurement process can proceed. The specific monetary standards for each type of resource can be found in the corresponding resource’s description.
Your thoroughness in supplying this detailed information is appreciated and will assist significantly in the assessment of your request.
Faculty, students, and staff can submit requests to purchase books. For any single Chinese-language book priced above 750 RMB or any single foreign-language book priced above 250 USD (for sets, this applies when the average price per volume exceeds the respective limits in Chinese and English) the requester must:
English and Chinese print books published outside of Mainland China. The library acquires these books through qualified suppliers with import authorization. The standard delivery period is three months; however, some books may take longer due to temporary unavailability or other factors. If a book is out of print, we will attempt to procure a second-hand copy. For books that cannot be obtained—whether due to policy restrictions or lack of availability, even as second-hand copies—we will notify the requester accordingly.
English and Chinese print books published in Mainland China. These print books are acquired through Chinese book suppliers. It usually takes approximately one month from ordering to delivery. In case of urgent needs, we purchase directly from websites such as JD.com and Dangdang, which usually ensures delivery within a week. For books that cannot be obtained—whether due to policy restrictions or lack of availability, even as second-hand copies—we will notify the requester accordingly.
The procurement process at the supplier side for print books published outside of Mainland China is as follows:
Duke University Libraries (DUL) allocates approximately USD $10,000 annually to support DKUL in purchasing eBooks through its designated platform. Given the limited funding, priority will be given to the acquisition of electronic textbooks and titles that are not available in print format. Typically, purchased eBooks are cataloged within three weeks and made available in DUL’s catalog at https://find.library.duke.edu/.
Faculty members, students, and staff can submit requests to purchase audiovisual materials. For physical and digital films priced above $350 USD, the requester must:
Audiovisual materials are divided into two formats:
Since our library’s supplier is currently unable to import DVDs from abroad, most audiovisual materials are purchased through Duke University A small number of DVDs may be obtained from domestic websites, as long as they are not pirated copies.
2) Digital films:
No matter in what format, the acquisition of audiovisual materials for the library is divided into two processes based on the purpose of use:
DKU users have access to most of Duke University Library’s (DUL) electronic journals. However, per publisher agreements, certain resources require cost-sharing between DKU and DUL, or has to be solely funded by DKU. All new electronic resources are subscribed to for DKU through DUL.
1) DKU will not subscribe to print academic journals.
2) For occasional use of inaccessible journal articles, users should place a document delivery request, as this will be considered as the primary alternative way of accessing.
3) For continuous demand for electronic journals that are not in either DKUL or DUL’s collections, faculty members can submit requests for DKUL-solely funded academic journals. For new journal subscriptions, the following requirements apply:
For databases requiring cost-sharing, renewal decisions are made through a comprehensive evaluation process. The library considers factors such as budget availability, usage data from previous years, and feedback from relevant faculty members. Subject librarians will be responsible for collecting feedback.
To be considered for maintaining access, the following steps must be completed by faculty members:
Note: DKUL will stop funding the add-on fee for DUL if the necessary documentation and justifications for access continuation are not submitted on time.
Faculty members can submit requests to subscribe to databases. For database subscriptions, the following requirements apply:
Note: Due to the time and cost limitations of international shipping, the delivery of English print journals to China may be delayed—some issues may even arrive several months late.
Once the requestor secures additional funds to cover their share of the cost, the library will proceed with the purchase. The acquired items will be added to the library’s collection. As a co-payer, the requestor will receive priority borrowing rights for these items.
