Sociology, Anthropology and Geography Guidelines

I. Purpose and Program Description

A. Library's Collection Development Objectives

The collection's primary purpose is to support programs at the B.A. degree level in Sociology. The library also seeks to support Master's degree level coursework in this area. Secondary support is directed to faculty teaching and research. The interdisciplinary nature of these studies requires that students and faculty consult related collections in the library.

B. Curricular Program Description

The department of Sociology combines the disciplines of Anthropology, Geography, Sociology and Social Work. Sociology is the study of people, their culture, and their environment. It deals primarily with social positions, relationships, groups, institutions, and process of human activities.   Anthropology examines the variations of behavior among human groups and describes the character of the various cultures and the process of stability, change, and the development that are characteristic to them. Courses in Anthropology include archaeology - the study of artifacts and the language of past cultures. Geography is the science that describes the earth's surface and its relationship to the people who live on it. Courses are offered in both physical geography and cultural geography. The Sociology major includes four areas of concentration: General Sociology, and Anthropology. Minors are offered in Anthropology, Geography and Gerontology. Graduate courses are offered in social theory, race and culture, deviant behavior, population studies, educational leadership, sociology of religion, social psychology, sociology of the family, industrial sociology, urban geography, and anthropology.

C. Areas of Specialization

Aging (Gerontology)
Deviant Behavior
Marriage and the family
Medical Sociology
Social Theory

D. Overlap with Other Academic Disciplines and Library Collections

Biology, Communications, Education, History, Nursing, Philosophy, Justice and Public Safety, Business Administration, Political Science & Public Administration, Psychology, Management and Marketing.

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 translation.

B. Chronological Coverage: For Sociology and Geography, emphasis is on the 20th-century forward, but no period is excluded from consideration for the collection. For Anthropology, there are no limitations.

C. Geographical Coverage: For Sociology, primary emphasis is on the culture, social relations, social behavior, and society in the United States, but no area is excluded from consideration. For Anthropology and Geography, there are no limitations.

D. Types of Material: Included are encyclopedias, directories, dictionaries, handbooks, bibliographies, biographies, statistical publications, research reports, case studies, monographs and journals. Pertinent local and state documents are acquired, as are all documents which are depository items issued by the federal government. Theses, dissertations and textbooks are     purchased selectively.

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

F. Physical Format: Traditional printforms, including hardbound and paperbound books, and serials are emphasized. Microforms and books with media are collected selectively when unavailable in print form or when space considerations are important. Audiovisuals are collected selectively in consultation with the Sociology liaison

G. Treatment of Subject: Publications encompassing social psychology, marriage and family, social histories, social philosophy, communities, social pathology, demography, archeology, cultural anthropology, geography, ethnology, social services, social classes and races, and sociology of the aged are collected. The historical, political, religious, legal, and business aspects of Sociology are collected, as are materials dealing with Sociology and Anthropology in relation to art and literature is collected. Works written on a popular level are purchased 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 Sociology:

1.) Standing Orders

Alabama County Data Book
Alabama Foundation Directory
Alabama Municipal Data Book
Book of World city rankings
Chases's Annual Events
Cities of the World
Community Resources Directory
Directory of Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Persons in the U.S.
Foundations Today
Human Development Report
Monitoring the Future Public Affairs Information Service
Places Rated Almanac
Public welfare Directory
Sociological Abstracts
State of the World
Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
Statistical Handbook of Japan

2.) Approval Plans:

Blackwell North America: Forms.

J. Major Assessment/Selection Tools:

Aby, Stephen H. Sociology: A Guide to Reference & Information Sources; American reference books Annual; Books for College Libraries; Li, Tze-chung.   Social Science Reference Sources: A Practical Guide; Sheehy, Eugene P.   Guide to Reference Books; Wynar, Bohdan S. Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries.

Collection Development Tools: Times Literary Supplement; Chronicle of Higher Education ; New York Times book Review. Also, reviews from major sociological journals, BNA approval notification slips, Baker & Taylor notification slips; and text bibliographies.

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

L. Classifications That Define Scope of Collection:

CC - Archaeology
G   - Geography. General. Atlases. Maps
GB - Physical geography
GC - Oceanography
GF - Human Ecology. Anthropogeography
GN - Anthropology
GR - Folklore
GT - Manners and Customs
HM - Sociology
HN - Social history
HQ - Family. Marriage. Men. Women
HS - Societies. Clubs
HT - Communities. Classes. Races
HV - Social pathology. Social service. Criminology
HX - Socialism. Communism

M. Recommended Collection Level: 3aE

Library Liaison: Gantt                     Subject: Sociology

 COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY STATEMENT:
CLASSED ANALYSIS