Information Services

Collection Development Policy

Human Development

Description

Human Development is the study of developmental consistency and change from conception through the life span.  Students in Human Development study developmental patterns and how each unique individual is impacted by their biological, social and cultural environment. The mission of the department is to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on human development by integrating theory, research and practice in diverse socio-cultural contexts.

The department's major offers a community learning orientation, and most courses include the opportunity to observe or work with children, teen, families, and the elderly in a context that is meaningful for learning. The department also administers an on campus Children's Program and cooperates with numerous other programs, agencies, and organizations in the New London community.

The Human Development minor focuses on social policy and its effects on children and their families.  Students study issues of human rights and public policies as reflected in our contemporary legal, health care, and educational systems.

General Guidelines

The library's collection will reflect the department's focus on development across the lifespan to support undergraduate and teaching needs. General topics include human development, family studies, early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, aging and development across the lifespan.   The collection will also reflect the topical and geographical specialties of the faculty including: children's rights and public policy, multicultural aspects of individual and family life, language development and service learning.      

The collection will also reflect relevant content from fields such as economics, education, psychology, sociology, and women's studies.

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 invited 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 or obsolete materials form the collection will be conducted in consultation with the faculty using the criteria outlined in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy.  

Types of Materials Collected

The primary types of materials that support undergraduate research and teaching include monographs, journals, electronic databases and indexes relevant to human development and its associated fields. Monographs will provide the bulk of the research collection. General reference works, audiovisual materials, and government documents will also be collected. The library will maintain its collection of journals that support human development and coordinate with other departments to maintain interdisciplinary titles where relevant. The library will provide full text electronic journal access when feasible. For all types of materials, the emphasis will be on current materials published in English.

Format of Materials Collected

Monographs and general 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 be given to electronic indexes with full text access to journal articles when coverage is comparable.  

Audiovisual materials are an important resource in the study and teaching of human development.   The library will acquire audiovisual materials in all current formats that can be reasonably supported by Media Services to include equipment and repairs.

Languages

Most materials, regardless of format, should be in English to facilitate use by the majority of undergraduate students. Materials in other languages will be collected on a case-by-case basis.

Geographical Areas

The primary focus of interest is on acquiring materials from English-speaking countries, primarily the United States . Materials shall emphasize the cross-cultural nature of human development across the lifespan. Comparative texts reflecting socio-economic and cultural diversity will be actively incorporated into the collection.

Chronological Guidelines

Primary emphasis will be on acquiring current materials, with selective acquisitions of historic materials reflecting the interdisciplinary and theoretical foundations of the field.    

Special Collections and Manuscripts

The library maintains a small collection of juvenile books and teaching materials with an emphasis on the teaching of social values to children in grades K through 8.   This collection is funded by a gift from Elizabeth Reiley Armington, Class of 1931, and is administered by the Armington Social Values Committee.   Award books and materials requested by the Committee and faculty in the Human Development and Education Departments make up the bulk of new acquisitions each year.  

The Special Collections Librarian is responsible for acquiring new titles for the Helen O. Gildersleeve Collection, a collection of rare children's books found in the Library's Special Collections.

Other Resources Available

Faculty, students and staff, as well as community members of Southeastern Connecticut, have access to LEARN's Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) located in Bolles House on the Connecticut College campus. The Center provides a wide variety of K-12 multicultural teaching resources.

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

Draft document created March 2005 by Beth Hansen, Library Liaison to the Human Development Department.

LC Classification

Collection Development and Information Access Policy

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

Ordering Library Materials

Recommendations and requests for the purchase of human development materials may sent to  Beth Hansen, Box Library or e-mail - beth.hansen@conncoll.edu , phone - x2681

Liaison

Beth Hansen, Director of Research Support & Instruction
Shain Library – Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave. , New London , CT   06320-4196
Phone 439-2681; Fax (860) 439-2871
e-mail beth.hansen@conncoll.edu