Religion and Culture

Purpose

The Collection Development policy is used as a guide to shape relevant collections and to ensure consistency in collection development. The decision to purchase library materials is primarily the responsibility of the Collections Librarian in consultation with faculty in the Department.

This policy has been developed by Greg Sennema in cooperation with Dr. Ashley Lebner.

Focus

To support teaching, study and research up to the doctorate level, as well as to support faculty research

Scope

• Language: emphasis is on English, French and German. Secondary emphasis is on other western languages.
• Place of Publication: primarily North American, European, Indian and Far Eastern sources are collected. Publications from other countries are acquired as necessary.
• Dates of Publication: emphasis is placed on recently published works
• Chronological Period: both contemporary and historical works are acquired
• Geographical Areas: no area is excluded
• Publishers: works from scholarly and academic publishers are emphasized

Types, formats, and readership of materials collected

• Materials with academic-level readership are selected
• Web-based formats for reference sources, journals and indexing sources are preferred. Print and microform are considered for reason of cost, availability,expected use or long term access.
• Single copies of books in print formats are generally selected. Web-based formats are selected on a title by title basis, especially if the title is of interest to users at multiple Laurier campuses. Duplication of print across Laurier campuses is generally avoided.
• Excluded types include textbooks, abridgements, study aids, limited editions,works by vanity presses, reprints and partial contents (eg. single issues of journals, electronic versions of single chapters of books).

Subjects collected and collecting priorities

Collecting priorities are categorized into 3 levels:

A - highest emphasis

The collection includes major published materials required to support the core teaching and research at the highest degree level offered by the Department.

B - secondary emphasis

The collection includes a selection of materials to complement the discipline as a whole, although it may not be a primary focus for courses.

C - selective emphasis

Materials, including reference materials and basic journals and indexes are collected to introduce and define an area.

Related programs and support

Consortial purchases with the Ontario Council of University Libraries, and on a national level, are pursued.

Efforts are made to coordinate Religion and Culture collections with those purchased by other departments/schools at Wilfrid Laurier University, including Classics, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Social Work, and Waterloo Lutheran seminary. In those disciplines, the university offers programs at the graduate level in History, Philosophy, psychology, Social Work, and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

The University of Waterloo library collection supports programs to the Ph.D. level in Religious Studies. In addition, library holdings of St. Jerome’s University, Conrad Grebel, University College, and Renison College, which are affiliated with the University of Waterloo, are also included in Omni.