Information Services

Collection Development Policy

Government

Purpose

The collection supports the broad curricular, instructional and research needs in all major areas of interest in Government and International Relations.   These include US politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory.    There is some overlap with history, economics, environmental science, and philosophy.

General Subject Boundaries

The Government Department has research and teaching interests that are broadly based and include the following issue areas: political theory and philosophy; US politics, elections, and constitutional law; political economy; environmental policy; human rights; and peace and security studies. In addition, the College and the Department have strong international interests with faculty specializing in Europe , Africa , Latin America , the Middle East , East Asia and China , and Russia and Eastern Europe. Faculty research needs will be accommodated within the scope of the general guidelines and limits of the materials budget. In general, the Library does not collect textbooks or multiple copies of materials.

Faculty are encouraged to submit purchase requests and make recommendations to the departmental liaison. The liaison, in consultation with the Director of Information Resources, will make the final purchasing decision.

The periodic removal (weeding or deselection) of extraneous and obsolete materials from the shelves will be conducted using the criteria outlined in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy.

Types of Material Collected

Publications in Government are chiefly in books and serials.   Bibliographies, biographies and histories related to the study of Government are collected.   Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks covering areas of political science, international affairs, and law will be found in the Library's Reference Collection. Reference materials in electronic formats include the Expanded Academic Index, Lexis-Nexis, Social Science Abstracts, the International Political Science Abstracts , and CIAO (Columbia International Affairs Online) and are generally selected by library staff and paid for from funds designated for reference.

As a Federal Depository Library, the Library maintains a substantial collection of documents issued by the US Government. Among those of interest to the Government Department are publications of the Departments of Defense and Justice, the State Department, the FEC, and numerous Congressional Committees.

Format of Materials Collected

Monographs and general reference works will be acquired in print format. Generally, the Library will subscribe to journals in one format only, and preference will be given to electronic format when available with the exceptions listed in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy. Preference will also be given to electronic indexes with full text access to journal articles when coverage is comparable.

Languages

English is the primary language.   Translations into English of significant works are also acquired.   Important publications in other languages are acquired selectively.

Geographical Areas

The emphasis is on works published in the United States and Great Britain , but subjects covered are international in scope.

Chronological Scope

Materials relevant to the study of government, politics, and law from antiquity to the present are collected.

Special Collections and Manuscripts

The acquisition of primary source materials, rare books, codices, and other special collections materials will be determined by the Special Collections Librarian.

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 and Revision History

Draft document created March 2005 by Jim MacDonald, Library Liaison to the Economics Department.

Draft forwarded to Bill Rose, Chair of the Government Department, for review and comment.

LC Class

J, JA, JC, JF, JK, JN, JX, K, KF, KZ.

Liaison

Jim MacDonald
Reference Librarian
Connecticut College Library
New London , CT 06320
(860) 439-2656
wjmac@conncoll.edu