Subject Collection Development Policies

This policy coordinates collection development throughout SMU Libraries through a detailed analysis of all subjects of collecting interest and a quantification of the collecting levels that support these subjects. Each subject policy outlines the specific areas (based on Library of Congress class ranges) the library supports. Policies are revised in response to changes in curriculum and university needs.

These subject policies represent those subjects supported primarily at Fondren Library, Hamon Arts Library, and Business Library. Bridwell Library and Underwood Law Library retain specialized collections and policies.

Subject Policies Overview

Individual subject collection development policies all include the following headings and descriptions: purpose of the collection, description of the academic programs, collection description (including geography, chronology, language, and formats), and collection levels by Library of Congress call number range.

General Purpose: The primary and secondary programs of instruction and research supported by the collection.

Description of University Program: The academic program and research community supported by the collection.

Subject Boundaries: Physical boundaries of the collection, such as separation of sub-categories or related disciplines between libraries.

Languages and Geographical Areas: Primary and secondary resources in a language other than English required to maintain the collection at the given level.

Format and Types of Materials Collected: Formats and special materials unique to the subject matter and required to maintain the collection at the given level.

Special Collections and Manuscripts: Special collections and manuscripts required to maintain the collection at the given level.

Collection Levels: Goal collection levels are indicated by individual Library of Congress call number ranges according to the collection depth indicator definitions.

Collection Depth Indicators

The following collection depth indicator definitions were based on those revised in 1996-1997 by the Association of Research Libraries.

1 Basic Information Level

Collections that serve to introduce and define a subject, to indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere, and to support the needs of general library users through the first two years of college instruction include:

A limited collection of monographs and reference works.
A limited collection of representative general periodicals.
Defined access to a limited collection of owned or remotely-accessed electronic bibliographic tools, texts, data sets, journals, etc.

The collection should be frequently and systematically reviewed for currency of information. Superseded editions and titles containing outdated information should be withdrawn. Classic or standard retrospective materials may be retained.

2 Study or Instructional Support Level

Collections that provide information about a subject in a systematic way, but at a level of less than research intensity, and to support the needs of general library users through college and beginning graduate instruction include:

An extensive collection of general monographs and reference works and selected specialized general monographs and reference works.
An extensive collection of general periodicals and a representative collection of specialized periodicals.
Limited collections of appropriate foreign language materials – e.g., foreign language learning materials for non-native speakers of foreign language materials about a topic such as German history in German.
Extensive collections of the works of better-known authors and selections from the works of lesser-known authors.
Defined access to an extensive collection of owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including bibliographic tools, texts, data sets, journals, etc.

The collection should be systematically reviewed for currency of information and for assurance that essential and important information is retained, including significant numbers of classic retrospective materials.

3 Research Level

A Collection that contains the major published source materials required for doctoral study and independent research includes:

A very extensive collection of general and specialized monographs and reference works.
A very extensive collection of general and specialized periodicals.
Extensive collections of appropriate foreign language materials.
Extensive collections of the works of well-known authors as well as other important but lesser-known authors.
Defined access to a very extensive collection of owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including bibliographic tools, tests, data sets, journals, etc.
Older material that is retained and systematically preserved to serve the needs of historical research.

4 Enhanced Research Level

Collections at this level have all the attributes of the Research Level but are enhanced by unique Special Collections holdings and/or by subject-specific collections endowment funds.

Subject Collection Development Policies

Subject Policies Overview

Collection Depth Indicators

1 Basic Information Level

2 Study or Instructional Support Level

3 Research Level

4 Enhanced Research Level

Arts and Communication

Business

Engineering

Humanities

Math and Sciences

Social Sciences