English and Film Studies

Purpose

The Collection Development policy is a 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 Deborah Wills, Librarian for English and Film Studies, in cooperation with and endorsed by Ed Jewinski, the Department’s Library Liaison, and Ute Lischke, the Department Chair.

Focus

• The collection supports teaching, study and research on a broad level for the Honours B.A. program in English Literature
• The collection supports the Honours B.A. program in Film Studies, with a focus on theory, style, genre and various national cinemas
• For the Master of Arts, with a focus on Gender, Nation, and Media, the collection provides more intensive support
• In support of the PhD program in English and Film Studies, in which students may focus on literature and/or film
• In support of the Department’s emphasis on representation, narrative styles, genres, and culture in a global context
• The collection contributes significantly to the Honours B.A. in Medieval Studies, an interdisciplinary program which analyzes areas such as literature, language and the roles of women. In addition, it contributes materials to Communication Studies, which draws from and combines a number of disciplines, including English and Film Studies.

Scope

• Language: Primary texts are acquired in English only. For secondary works, English is preferred. Important theorists on criticism should be available in both the original language and in translation. Secondary criticism written in a foreign language will be purchased in the original language only on the strength of positive reviews. When available, translations of secondary criticism are preferred.
• Place of Publication: Priority is given to materials published in English-speaking countries.
• Dates of Publication: Emphasis is placed on recently published work and on facsimiles of primary sources for all periods of English language and literature. Monographs for purchase include new critical editions of important older texts.
• Chronological Period: Time periods studied range from the medieval to the present.
• Geographical Areas: The literatures in English of Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Oceania, South Asia, the Caribbean and other areas representing the diversity of world writing in English. The English language of England, with some attention to Canadian and American English. For film, works on national cinemas from around the world.
• Publishers: For secondary material, academic and scholarly publishers are emphasized. For primary material, a broad range of publishers are monitored.

Types, formats, and readership of materials collected

• Materials with academic-level readership are selected. Children’s literature is collected only if it is by a major author, particularly one who does not normally write in that genre. Popular genre fiction is collected on a very selective basis. Non scholarly publications, such as popular magazines, are selected only when used as primary sources of study.
• Electronic formats for reference sources, journals and indexing sources are preferred.
• Microform is collected very selectively, for reason of cost, availability, expressed use or long-term access.
• Single copies of books in print formats are generally selected. Ebooks 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. Duplication across the TUG libraries of expensive items or sets of items is avoided.
• Theses, dissertations, symposia, conference proceedings, and other such materials are collected with a high degree of selectivity. Reprints and facsimiles are considered when the material is central to the collection focus.
• Excluded types include textbooks, abridgements, study aids, limited editions, works by vanity presses, reprints and partial contents (e.g. 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

Materials related to English and Film Studies are also purchased by Communication Studies, Cultural Studies, Medieval Studies and Women and Gender Studies.

Consortial purchases with the TriUniversity Group of Libraries (Guelph, Waterloo, and Laurier University Libraries), with the Ontario Council of University Libraries, and on a national level through the Canadian Knowledge Research Network, are pursued.