Information Services

Collection Development Policy

English

Purpose

The primary purpose of the English Language and Literature collection is to support the curricular offerings of the English Department and the research interests of the faculty.    Courses range from the traditional, including Chaucer, Shakespeare, Romantic Poetry, Modern Literature and others, to offerings reflecting newer directions in literary study, such as the Harlem Renaissance and Postcolonial Literature and Theory.   The department has a strong program in creative writing with courses taught by two well-known published authors.   Among the faculty, there is special interest in the following: Medieval and Renaissance literature; 19th and 20th century British literature, especially the novel; modern British literature; James Joyce; antebellum American literature; Henry James; African-American literature; postcolonial literature; literary theory; gender studies and contemporary literature; fiction by women; contemporary poetry; visual culture and media; queer theory; science fiction and fantasy.   The department contributes to the interdisciplinary programs in Medieval Studies, American Studies, Gender and Women's Studies and Film Studies.    

General Subject Boundaries

Shain Library continues to build on its traditionally strong collection of editions of works by canonical authors as well as adding new works by important contemporary writers as they are published.    Standard works of scholarship such as biographies and autobiographies, correspondence, bibliographies and works of literary criticism and cultural history supplement these texts.   In recent years a special effort has been made to augment the holdings of contemporary fiction and poetry.   The library maintains a standing order for the Cambridge Companions to Literature series and regularly purchases critical monographs published by the major scholarly presses.   Selections are sometimes made within the context of the CTW consortium, which provides quick access for our users to the rich collections of Wesleyan University and Trinity College .   The library is currently working to provide greater representation in its collections of literature written in English outside of the United States and Great Britain .      

Types of Materials Collected

The collection includes monographs, reference works, journals, bibliographies, online databases and films.  

Format of Materials Collected

The Library collects monographs and some reference works in print format and subscribes to print editions of selected journals when electronic versions are not available. Electronic products now make up a large part of the literature collection. A growing selection of online journals is provided through Project Muse, JSTOR and American Periodicals Series 1741-1900. Many additional journals are available through full-text databases such as Expanded Academic Index.   Online bibliographic access is provided through the MLA Bibliography, the Annual Bibliography of English Language and Literature and ITER (Medieval and Renaissance Studies).   LION (Literature Online) includes the texts of major literary works along with selected reference sources and bibliographic citations. The Gale Literary Databases provide online access to Contemporary Authors, Contemporary Literary Criticism and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.   The Library is building its collection of videos in response to the faculty's increased use of film texts in their classes.   Microforms are added rarely and only when the desired material is not available in print or electronic format.   

Languages

Works in languages other than English are not collected.   Important works of literature, literary criticism and theory written in languages other than English are purchased in English translation as they become available.

Geographical Areas

Historically, the collection was built primarily around the literatures of Great Britain , Ireland and the United States .   In recent years, efforts have been directed towards expanding the holdings of all works written in English, regardless of country of origin.   In particular, writings from Africa , Canada , the Caribbean , India , Australia and New Zealand are being added to the collection in significant numbers.   In addition, the library acquires major works of foreign literature in English translation with particular emphasis on the literatures of Eastern Europe , Asia and, most recently, the Middle East .

Chronological Guidelines

The collection covers British and American literature from the beginnings to the present.   Works in English from other parts of the world date primarily from the 19 th century to the present.      

Special Collections and Manuscripts

Shain Library's Special Collections are rich with material for the study of English and American literature.   Of note are the Sheaffer/O'Neill collection for the study of Eugene O'Neill, the William Meredith Collection, and the Robert Frost collection.   The Helen O. Gildersleeve collection is a wonderful resource for the study of children's literature.   Additional collections include the Trianon Press editions of William Blake and a good collection of first editions of American literature.

Other Resources Available

Currently registered students and Connecticut College faculty and staff have access to monographs, audiovisual materials, and government documents from Trinity College and Wesleyan University through the CTW Consortium.   Interlibrary loan provides access to monographs not held within the CTW Consortium as well as journal articles not available at Connecticut College .

Creation Date and Revision History

Draft document created April 2005 by Marian Shilstone, Library Liaison to the English Department, in consultation with Professor Kenneth Bleeth.

LC Class

P, PE, PN, PR, PS

For materials in translation: PA, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PQ, PT

Collection Development and Information Access Policy

The Collection Development and Information Access Policy can be viewed at: http://www.conncoll.edu/is/info-resources/colldevpolicy.html

Ordering Library Materials

Recommendations and requests for purchase of materials should be addressed to Marian Shilstone, Library Liaison to the English Department.

Liaison

Marian Shilstone
Director of Information Resources
Charles E. Shain Library
(860) 439-2676
marian.shilstone@conncoll.edu