Content: All electronic resources included in the collection must have a definable content and structure. With reasonable training, a user should understand how to access the resource and utilize the content. There should be minimal overlap in the Collection.

Chronology: No limit is placed on the chronological period covered by the electronic resources included in the collection.

Geographical Coverage: No limit is placed on the geographical area covered by the electronic resources included in the collection.

Language: No limit is placed on the language used to record information. However, any electronic resource written in non-roman characters may be included only if it is technologically accessible to all SUS libraries.

Accessibility: All SUS libraries must have technology available to access the electronic resource, although any library may make a service decision not to make a particular electronic resource available.

Delivery: At a minimum the electronic resource must be accessible to users at one library location at each SUS institution. The electronic resource's content must be fully accessible: i.e., if the electronic resource contains text, images, moving images, and sound or any combination thereof, the technology available to deliver the content must support the various formats in the electronic resource. The search software must support as closely as possible the capabilities of the electronic resource. A commitment to add a record of the electronic resource into the library catalog must be made.

Format: Electronic resources included in the collection may comprise text, images, moving images, and sound or any combination thereof.

Rights: No electronic resource, excepting those in the public domain, may be included in the collection unless the right to distribute the electronic resource through statewide SUS networks has been obtained.

Academic Program Support: Every electronic resource included in the collection must support SUS academic programs involving teaching, research or service. The electronic resource should be useful to the primary user group in these programs. Each electronic resource included in the collection must support programs offered by at least two SUS institutions. Overall the available electronic resources in the collection should provide support for diverse groups and programs.

Relevance: The electronic resource should provide superior access and currency compared to other available formats. The content should be authoritative and appropriate for the defined primary user group. When considering a bibliographic citation resource, the ability of the libraries to provide access through existing collections, interlibrary loan or document delivery programs should be considered.

Acquisition: An electronic resource may be purchased, received as a gift, leased or accessed along with the right to distribute its contents to the SUS academic community. An SUS library or agency must be responsible for managing and preserving, if necessary, the electronic resource.

Cost Effectiveness: The cost of the electronic resource, including the costs for obtaining the resource, the technology for delivering it, and the human resources required to catalog and service it, should be commensurate with the benefit derived by the users.

All electronic resources included in the collection will be systematically evaluated against the following performance measures: