History

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 consultation with various History faculty members.

Focus

To support teaching, study and research up to the Honours B.A. level, and, as part of a joint program with Waterloo and Guelph, to the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. As program offerings generally reflect faculty areas of competence, the collection also supports faculty research interests.

Scope

• Language: Generally all modern languages studied at Laurier, with emphasis on English for secondary literature
• Place of Publication: No limitations.
• Dates of Publication: Emphasis of ongoing purchases is on current publications.
• Chronological Periods: Coverage is from the Middle Ages onwards.
• Geographical Areas: Generally worldwide, with emphasis on Canadian, European, American, and Military history, and the history of International Relations. The histories of Africa, China and the Middle East have been recently introduced.
• Publishers: works from scholarly and academic publishers are emphasized

Types, formats, and readership of materials collected

• Materials with academic-level readership are selected, as well as primary source materials, at least in facsimile, are purchased
• 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, juvenile works, 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.

The library’s Archives and Special Collections section houses various fonds and collections, including some items relating to Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. The library is also the caretaker of the archives of the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.