When building and maintaining collections, our goal is to provide current and future members of the Dartmouth community with effective and efficient access to a wealth of information resources that complement Dartmouth's curriculum and research. These resources include books, journals, and physical and digital media, as well as new and emerging formats.

The Libraries’ collections mirror Dartmouth research profiles and educational programs. Much like a living organism, our collections grow and contract depending on impacts from the surrounding ecosystem. As Dartmouth’s research, educational, professional, and clinical programs change over time, we have positioned ourselves to respond and reorient our collections accordingly.

Our collection development practices are user focused and involve active decision-making about the purchase and licensing of information resources, while also leveraging access to information resources available through our network partnerships. Not only do these network partnerships expand access for the Dartmouth community, they also broaden access for the greater scholarly community through resource sharing and increased open scholarship initiatives.