Information Services

Collection Development Policy

Physics, Astronomy and Geophysics

Purpose

For the Department of Physics, the purposes of the library collection materials are to support both the pedagogical and research goals of the department.   The Physics, Astronomy and Geophysics Department offers four majors:   physics, physics for education, physics and engineering, and astrophysics.   The department also offers three minors:   physics, astronomy, and geophysics.

General Guidelines

Departmental faculty in Physics have broad research and teaching needs including astronomy, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, themodynamics, optics, and molecular spectroscopy.

Faculty research needs will be accommodated within the scope of the general guidelines and limits of the materials budget.   Whenever possible, the Library will collect appropriate materials for keeping up-to-date with the current work in their fields, and materials to support academic work and assist in writing papers and books.   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 and obsolete materials from the shelves will be conducted using the criteria outlined in the Collection Development and Information Access Policy.

Types of Materials Collected

The primary types of materials that support the Physics Department include monographs, serials, databases, and software, but the emphasis will be on serials (including online journals) and databases.   For all types of materials, the emphasis will be on current materials published in English.

Currently, all print journal holdings are kept permanently.   Access to the online journals are provided through the Journal Locator.   [Access to the INSPEC database is provided via an STN Karlsruhe account intended for faculty use only. This section will be updated   when the library switches to another INSPEC provider.]

Format of Materials Collected

Monographs and general reference works will be acquired in print format.   In general, the library will subscribe to journals in one format only.   Preference will be given to electronic journals whenever possible, 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

Materials for the physics collection shall be primarily in English.

Geographical Areas

Materials shall be predominantly collected from North American and European publishers.

Chronological Guidelines

All journal holdings will be retained as long as space is not an issue.   If several editions of a book are held, it may be possible to keep only the most recent edition in the library.   Older editions maybe be withdrawn or sent to storage, pending approval from the department.

Special Collections and Manuscripts

Special Collections collects all faculty monograph publications, and all Honors Theses written by seniors at Connecticut College .    The acquisition of special collection materials will be determined by the Special Collections Librarian.

Other Resources Available

Currently enrolled 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 by CTW as well as journal articles not available at Connecticut College .

Creation Date and Revision History

Draft document created March 2005 by Melodie Hamilton, Library Liaison to the Physics Department.   Draft will be forwarded to Doug Thompson, Chair of the Physics Department for review and comment.

LC Class

QB, QC, TA 368-494, TA 704-705, TA 706-889, TA 1501-2000, TC, TD, TK 531-1000, TK 5981-6000, TK 7018-8299

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 physics materials should be addressed to Melodie Hamilton, Library Liaison to the Physics Department.

Liaison

Melodie Hamilton
Electronic Access/Serials Librarian
Charles E. Shain Library
(860) 439-2669
melodie.hamilton@conncoll.edu