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Martin Luther University College

Policy Last Updated:

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, Martin Luther University College Librarian, in cooperation with and endorsed by the Luther Library Committee, and the Dean of Luther.

Focus

  • To support teaching, study and research up to the doctoral level, as well as to support faculty research
  • To serve as a research resource for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, particularly in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes
  • The collection of Martin Luther University College Library is integrated with the Wilfrid Laurier University Library. The official archives of the Eastern Canada Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran church in Canada are housed in the Archives section of the Wilfrid Laurier University Library.

Scope

  • Language: materials in a number of languages may be collected, but emphasis is on English, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, Latin and French. Materials related to theology, history, and church life of Latin American, Asia, and Africa will normally be sought in translation, though may be collected in the original languages where necessary.
  • Place of Publication: primarily from North American and European sources with acquisitions from other countries as necessary
  • Dates of Publication: emphasis is placed on recently published works
  • Chronological Period: both contemporary and historical work are acquired
  • Geographical Areas: all pertinent materials will be collected regardless of geographical area. Emphasis will be place on materials most related to the curriculum of the Seminary
  • 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.

Subjects collected

Classification

Collecting priority

Biblical Theology

  

Hermeneutics and Exegetical Method

BS476

B

Old Testament Studies: Introduction and History

BS1110-BS1140.3

B

Old Testament Studies: Theology and Exegesis

BS1192.5-1199; BS476

B

Old Testament Studies: Commentaries

BS1143-BS1158

B

Inter-Testamental Studies

BS1691-BS1830

C

New Testament Studies: Introduction and History

BS2280-BS2330.3

B

New Testament Studies: Theology and Exegesis

BS2331; BS2395-BS2417.W65; BS476

B

New Testament Studies: Commentaries

BS2333-BS2348

B

Biblical Languages: Hebrew

PJ4501-PJ4860

C

Biblical Languages: Greek

PA695-PA895

C

Historical and Systematic Theology

  

Early Church History and Theology

BR165-BR242

A

Medieval History and Theology

BR250-BR275.J7

C

General Reformation and Counter-Reformation

BR280-BR481

A

Lutheran Reformation

BR232.5-BR334.4

A

Lutheran Confessions

BX8068

A

General Post-Reformation and Modern

BR290-BR481

B

Lutheran Post-Reformation and Modern

BX8065-BX8065.3

A

Canadian Church History

BR570-BR582.U57

A

Lutheranism in North America

BX8041-BX8048.3

A

Contemporary Christian Theology

BT65-BT85

B

Contemporary Lutheran Theology

BX8065-BX8065.3

A

Third World Theologies

BT30; BT83.57 (liberation theology)

B

Christian Ethics, including contemporary ethical issues

BJ1188-BJ1278.5

A

Functional Theology

  

Ministerial Practice

BV4000-BV4017

B

Homiletics

BV4200-BV4317

A

Pastoral Counseling

BV4012.2

A

Marriage and Family Studies

BV835; BX2250 (Catholic)

A

Liturgics and Ritual Studies

BV169-BV200

B

Spirituality

BV4485-BV4526.3

B

Christian Education

BV4019-BV4180

B

Church and Social problems

HN30-HN40

B

Mental Illness, Psychotherapy

RC455.4-RC489

A

Mental disorders, Therapy

RJ499-RJ505

A

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

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

Subjects collected in the following areas would have materials of relevance to Luther.

Subject

Classification

Ethics

BJ

Psychology / Counseling

BF, RC, RJ, QP

Religions (General)

BL

Christianity

BR

Bible

BS

Doctrinal Theology

BT

Practical Theology

BV

Christian Denominations

BX

Social Sciences (General)

HM

Social History & Conditions

HN

Family / Marriage / Women

HQ

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.

Page Owner: Greg Sennema

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