Information Services

Collection Development Policy

Sociology

Purpose

The Sociology Program at Connecticut College provides students with the theoretical and methodological tools that can be adapted to any aspect of social life and prepare students for a wide variety of careers.    The purposes of the library collection materials are to support both the pedagogical and research goals of the department.

General Guidelines

Collection development in Sociology will have very broad coverage ranging from philosophy and social theory to specific current events.   Particular areas of interest include comparative political sociology, urban sociology, race and class, race and ethnicity, gender, poverty, and organizations. The Sociology department also overlaps with the interests of several of the interdisciplinary programs and centers.

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 Sociology Department include monographs, serials, databases, and videos, but the emphasis will be on books and serials (including online journals.)    Currently, all print journal holdings are kept permanently.   Access to the online journals are provided through the Journal Locator.   For all types of materials, the emphasis will be on current materials published in English.

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 sociology collection shall be primarily in English.

Geographical Areas

Materials shall be predominantly collected from North American and European publishers.   Although the U.S. is the general geographic area of interest, sociology and certainly the interdisciplinary areas are taught in a global framework.

Chronological Guidelines

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 Sociology Department.   Draft forwarded to Robert Gay, Chair of the Sociology Department for review and comment.

LC Class

HM-HV

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 sociology materials should be addressed to Melodie Hamilton, Library Liaison to the Sociology Department.

Liaison

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