Policy Last Updated: June 23, 2019 Subject: Religion and Culture PurposeThe 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.FocusTo support teaching, study and research up to the doctorate level, as well as to support faculty researchScopeLanguage: 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 worksChronological Period: both contemporary and historical works are acquiredGeographical Areas: no area is excludedPublishers: works from scholarly and academic publishers are emphasizedTypes, formats, and readership of materials collectedMaterials with academic-level readership are selectedWeb-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 prioritiesCollecting priorities are categorized into 3 levels:A - highest emphasisThe collection includes major published materials required to support the core teaching and research at the highest degree level offered by the Department.B - secondary emphasisThe 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 emphasisMaterials, including reference materials and basic journals and indexes are collected to introduce and define an area.Subjects collectedClassificationCollecting priorityHistory of religion, generalBL75-BL87; BL96-BL98BMethodology in the study of religionBL41BEarly Near Eastern religion and mythologyBL1610-BL1710CGreek and Roman religion and mythology (also collected by Classics Department)BL780-BL820.V8CJewish religious history and thought, generalBM150-BM155.3BOld Testament/Hebrew BibleBM165-BM175BExtra-Biblical LiteratureBM480-488.8; BS1691-BS1830CInter-Testamental, TalmudicBS1830.T74CMedieval JudaismBM180-BM185.4.S533ZCModern JudaismBM190-BM199CIslam, generalBP1-BP63AIslamic history, theology and philosophyBP50-68; BP166-BP166.94; BP100-BP134.W6; BP188-BP190AContemporary issues in IslamBP60AIranian religion, ancientBL2270-BL2280CBaha'iBP300-BP395BChristianity, generalBR1-BR55AHistory, History of religious thought (also collected by Martin Luther University College)BR160-1725ANew TestamentBS1901-BS2970AContemporary religious issuesBR115AAfrican Religions and Caribbean Religions, generalBL2390-BL2490; BL2550-BL2592.X36AAfrican Diaspora and other Diasporic StudiesDT16.5ACaribbean Religion and CultureBL2565; GN564BAfrican-American Religion and CultureBL2490; BR563.N4; E185.86BAfrican-Canadian Religion and CultureFC106BModern religious movements (cults and sects), non-Christian (emphasis on North America, Europe, South America, Africa, India and the Far East)BL2700-2780; BL550-BL619BAsian Religions, generalBL1000-BL1035BBuddhism, emphasizing origins, South East Asia, East Asia, history, and developmentBQ251-BQ799; BQ4000-BQ4060BConfucianism and TaoismBL1830-BL1942.85.X58CShintoism and modern Japanese ReligionsBL2200-BL2228CJainism, Parseesm (Zoroastrianism) and SikhismBL1300-BL1380; BL1500-BL1590; BL2017-BL2018.7; BL2520-BL2525AAsian religions in North AmericaBL2520-BL2525AIndian Religions  Hinduism, emphasizing classical period and modern Reform movementsBL1152.3-BL1153.5BDevotional movements, Tamil studiesPL4758BTemple tradition, temple art, Indian artBL1243.72BGandhian studiesDS481BIndigenous ReligionsBL380ANative North AmericanE98BHispanic religionsBL2540CSpecial Topics  Anthropology/Ethnography of ReligionBL41; BL256AMedical Anthropology, Religion and HealingGN296CMysticismBL625CMyth, Ritual, Symbol and ImaginationBL603ANew Immigrants and ReligionBL2525APsychology of ReligionBL53BReligion and Contemporary Society (Racism, economic relations, technology, politics, ecology, violence, etc)BT734-BT734.3; BR115AReligion and Gender StudiesBL65AReligion and the ArtsN72.R4BReligion and Popular CultureBR115AReligion and ScienceBL289-BL290BReligion and SexualityBT708; BL65.S4CReligion and TherapyRC489CRitual Studies, especially rites of passageBL600ASpiritualityBX1407.S66(US)BWomen and ReligionBL458AEthics (also collected by Philosophy Department, Martin Luther University College)BJ1188-BJ1395CRelated programs and supportConsortial 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 Martin Luther University College. In those disciplines, the university offers programs at the graduate level in History, Philosophy, psychology, Social Work, and Martin Luther University College.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.