I. Purpose and Program Description
A. Library's Collection Development Objectives
The library seeks to provide materials to support economics programs through the B.S.B.A. major in Economics and graduate economics programs for the MBA.
B. Curricular Program Description
Economics Majors & Minors take courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, labor economics, money and banking, public finance, and international economics. Economics is the study of society's production and distribution of goods and services. Economics principles provide the foundation for all person, business, and public sector financial analyses. Students can choose from courses in international economics, labor economics, resource economics and comparative economic systems.
C. Expanding Areas of Interest
1. Environmental and energy issues
2. Managerial economics
3. Financial economics
4. Public finance/public choice
D. Areas of Specialization
1. Income distribution
2. Monetary economics
3. Economics and crime
4. Agricultural economics (fisheries)
E. Overlap with other academic disciplines and library collections:
Finance; Marketing; Statistics; Public Administration
II. General Selection Guidelines
A. Languages: English is the primary language of the collection. Foreign language materials are excluded. Key works originally published in a foreign language will be purchased only in English translations.
B. Chronological Coverage: Emphasis is on economics in the twentieth century forward. All other periods are treated selectively.
C. Geographical Coverage: Primary emphasis: United States. Secondary emphasis: U.K., Canada.
D. Types of Materials: Indexes, abstracts and encyclopedias and handbooks will provide basic reference information. Dictionaries and directories in the field are also necessary. Publications of professional organizations are of strong interest. Collected very selectively are symposium proceedings, collections of readings, and dissertations. Excluded are laboratory manuals and textbooks.
E. Imprint Date: Emphasis is on materials published during the last decade. Retrospective purchasing prior to this will be very selective.
F. Physical Format: Hardbound and paperbound books are collected extensively. Serials, periodicals, microforms, audiovisuals and computer software are collected selectively.
G. Treatment of Subject: For Economics the Library is attempting to build a Level 2a, 2b, and 3b collection, Basic Information Level to Advanced Study of Instructional Support Level. Monographs that address the theoretical and practical aspects of the subjects studied in economics will be collected extensively. Research level monographs in economics are a collection interest but their acquisition will generally be secondary to the purchase of instructional level materials. Popular treatments of economics subjects will be acquired only very selectively.
H. Place of Publication: Emphasis is given to materials published in the United States, Canada, and the U.K.. Materials from all other places are collected selectively.
I. Acquisitions Plans Affecting Economics:
1.) Standing Orders:
Alabama Economic Outlook
Directory of Trade Statistics Yearbook
Economic Abstract of Alabama
Legislator's Guide to Alabama's Taxes
Predicasts Forecasts
Social Indicators of Development
World Military & Social Expenditures
2.) Approval Plans: BNA: Books and Forms; Baker & Taylor, Forms.
J. Major Selection Tools and Information Sources
Choice. Middleton, CT: Choice, 1964-.
Encyclopedia of Business Information Sources. Detroit: Gale,1986.
New Books in Business and Economics: Recent Additions to Baker Library.
Boston: Harvard University (10/year).
American Reference Books Annual. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1970- Sheehy, Eugene P. Guide to Reference Books. 10th ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1986.
Brookings Inst. 1775 Massachusetts Ave., N.C., Washington, DC 20036.
K. Weeding/Replacement: Currency is of primary importance in the field of Economics. Every effort is made to insure that the collection is up-to-date and germane to the degree programs offered. Thus erroneous and dated materials are prime candidates for weeding/replacement, unless they retain some seminal or historical value. Materials for weeding or replacement are evaluated in accordance with the General Collection Management and Development Policy statement on Weeding/Replacement.