World Language

Collection Development Policy: World Language Studies

Subject Librarian: Kirby Cheng

Purpose of policy The collection development policy guides the development and management of the collection for World Languages.

Program Description

The Mission of the Department of World Language Studies is to prepare students for citizenship in a multi-cultural, multi-lingual global community. The Department promotes proficiency in languages, knowledge of cultures and literatures, and students' active engagement in cultural and linguistic exchanges.

Areas of established specialization

• Languages and Literatures of French, German, Spanish and Japanese.

New and expanding areas of interest

• East Asian Culture & Society

Recent changes (past five years) in courses taught, program focus, or faculty interest:

New course: EALC-E350 Studies in East Asian Society

Degrees Offered

World Language Studies offers three undergraduate degrees:

• Bachelors of Arts in French, German, or Spanish and three minor options: French, German, or Spanish.

In addition to undergraduate degrees and minors, there are also three interdisciplinary minors: East Asian Studies, European Studies, and Latin American / Latino Studies.

Clientele

The primary clientele are the undergraduate students and faculty of the World Languages Department.

General Collection Guidelines

Readership level

The collection consists primarily of works written for the basic through advanced undergraduate level and for basic faculty research. Graduate- and research-level publications are collected selectively.

Chronological periods collected

The collection emphasizes current material, with the primary purpose of supporting coursework, student research, and basic faculty research. Older imprints are acquired rarely.

Subject Emphases

Traditionally, the collection focuses on the topics: Languages and Literatures of French, German, Spanish and Japanese; publications on cultures, and histories of the related nations.

Current Collecting Priorities

Journal article databases on the above listed topics with monographs and media items as supplements.

Languages

The collection is in: French, German, Spanish, Japanese and English.

Geographic coverage

Coverage is worldwide.

Types of Materials Included

Scholarly serials, monographs, videos, and electronic resources are collected.

Types of Materials Excluded

Pamphlets, newsletters, article reprints, textbooks, are not generally collected.

Reference

Reference material are selected by the subject librarian following the general subject parameters of the collection policy.

Interdisciplinary Considerations

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the East Asian Studies, European Studies, and Latin American / Latino Studies, publications on cultures, histories of the related nations are occasionally selected.

Location

Materials are housed in the Schurz Library. Works specifically about the disciplines are classified in the following schedules of Library of Congress system.

• French Language: PC2001-3761
• Spanish language: PC4001-4977
• German Language: PF3001-5999
• French Literature: PQ1-3999
• Spanish literature: PQ6001-8929
• German literature: PT1-4897
• Japanese language and literature: PL501-889
• European Studies: D-DD
• Asian Studies: DS
• Latin America/Spanish America: F1201-3799