Political Science and Public Administration Guidelines

I. Purpose and Program Description

A. Library's Collection Development Objectives

The Library seeks to provide materials to support studies at the Baccalaureate and Master's levels in Political Science. In Public Administration, the collection's primary purpose and emphasis is to support studies at the Master and Ph.D. levels. Secondary support is directed to faculty teaching and research and research assistance for library patrons.   The interdisciplinary nature of this area requires that students and faculty consult related collections in the library.

B. Curricular Program Description

Courses examine the institutions, political processes, problems, and issues within local, state, and American government, as well as the major political systems such as Great Britain, France, and Russia (i.e., the former Soviet Union.). Other Political Science Master's degree level courses explore educational politics, foreign policy, domestic policy, southern politics, political theory and behavior, voting behavior, and constitutional law. The Master of Public Administration program focuses upon the areas of public administration, government organization and administration, public budgeting, personnel administration, applied research methods in administration, policy formulation and quantitative decision making. The       elective curriculum in the M.P.A. program has several areas of concentration: personnel administration, health care administration, state and local administration, and nonprofit management.     

The Ph.D. in Public Administration is offered jointly by the AUM Department of Political Science and Public Administration and the Auburn University Department of Political Science. The degree is research oriented and offers core seminars or specialty tracks in public policy analysis and research; public financial management; political economy; the public policy process; public administration, administrative responsibility and democracy; human resource management; organization theory and management; national and international security; and health administration.

C. Overlap with Other Academic Disciplines and Library Collections

Business Administration, Justice and Public Safety, Education, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology

II. General Selection Guidelines

A. Languages: English is the principal language of the collection. Foreign language materials are excluded. Works written in languages other than English are purchased selectively and usually in English translation.

B. Chronological Coverage: Emphasis is on the 20th-century forward, but no period is excluded form consideration for the collection.

C. Geographical Coverage: Primary emphasis is on government, politics, and society in the United States. Secondary emphasis is on other major comparative political systems such as Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. Area studies focus on the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and Latin America.

D. Types of Material: Included are encyclopedias, handbooks, directories, dictionaries, statistical publications, analytical research reports, abstracts, indices, bibliographies, biographies, monographs and journals. Dissertations and theses are purchased selectively. All depository items issued by the Superintendent of Documents are acquired.

E. Imprint Date: Current in-print publications receive priority; however, selected retrospective publications are purchased in available formats as budget permits. Standard political science and public administration reference works are updated regularly.

F. Physical Format: Hardbound books are selected extensively.   Paperbound books, pamphlets, serials, periodicals and books with media are collected selectively. Microforms and audiovisuals are collected selectively in consultation with the Political Science liaison

G. Treatment of Subject: Publications encompassing political theory, constitutional history and administration, law, government organization, federal and state relations, political philosophy, political psychology, political rights, political parties, local and state government, public finance, diplomacy, international relations, international law, forms of state, environmental policy, and urban studies are collected.  

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 Political Science & Public Administration Collection:

1.) Standing Orders:  

Alabama Municipal Officials
Almanac of American Politics
Almanac of the 50 States
America Votes
AREA's Alabama Directory and State Government
Book of the States
Brookings Institution
Canadian Almanac and Directory
Congress and Defense
Congress and the Nation
Congressional Quarterly Paperback Books
Congressional Roll Call
Congressional Staff Directory
Countries of the World
County and State Officials Directory
Directory of Political Periodicals
Everyone's United Nations
Fact Book (Alabama commission on Higher Education)
Federal Regulatory Directory (CQ)
Federal Staff Directory
Federal Yellow Book
Guide to Congress
Guide to Southern Politics
Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court
Information Please Almanac, Atlas And Yearbook
Inside Alabama politics
International Almanac of Electoral History
Judicial Staff Directory
Political Handbook of the World
Politics in America
Municipal Yearbook
Republic of China
State Legislative Sourcebook
Statesmans Yearbook
Supreme Court Yearbook
United Nations Yearbook
United States Government Manual
Universal Almanac
Washington Information Directory
Washington Representatives
Who's Who in American Politics
Who's Who in Congress
World Almanac and Book of Facts
World Armaments & Disarmament
World Development Report

2.) Approval Plans: BNA: Books and forms; Baker & Taylor: Forms.

J. Major Assessment/Selection Tools: American Reference Books Annual; Books for College Libraries; Bowman, James S. American Public Administration; Brock, Clifton. The Literature of Political Science; Choice; Gowhlert, Robert. Policy Analysis and Management: ABibliography; Holler, Fredrick L. Information Sources of Political Science; Katz, Bill. Magazines for Libraries; McCurdy, Howard. Public Administration: A Bibliographic Guide to the Literature; P.A.I.S.; Robey, John S. Public Policy Analysis: An Annotated Bibliography; Sheehy, E. P. Guide to Reference Books.

K. Weeding/Replacement: Currency is not a primary criterion for assessment, thus weeding/replacement is kept to an absolute minimum.   Materials for weeding or replacement are evaluated in accordance with the General Collection Management and Development Policy statement on Weeding/Replacement.

L. Classifications That Define the Scope of the Collection:

J's - Political Science & Public Administration

M. Recommended Collection Level:

Political Science - 3bE
Public Administration - 4E

Library Liaison: Best                 Subject: POLITICAL SCIENCE

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY STATEMENT:  
CLASSED ANALYSIS

Collection Level