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International History
Introduction Collection development policy review for International History IntroductionThe general policy for International History is to collect to research level, with the intention of as comprehensive a coverage as resources allow. Research level is defined as one where independent research with the published sources can be pursued. Exclusions and qualifications to this policy are mentioned below and in the General Policy Statement: see Principles of collection policy and Criteria for selection. The policy for developing the collections in International History needs to be seen within the context of the complete acquisitions policy. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and its publications means that subject boundaries cannot always be easily determined and described in isolation. Please refer particularly to International Relations, Government, and Economic History. Back to the top Selection criteriaGeneral scopeAn outline is given below, but in general terms the Library collects material in European and international political, social, economic and diplomatic history from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day. The following is an outline of the subject scope and coverage of collecting policy for International History.
International and comparative political history. Back to the top Historical periodsCollection focuses particularly on European and international history from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day. Material on earlier periods is collected more selectively. For broad coverage of those periods the Library would rely on the collections at Senate House. Back to the top Geographical area and languageGeographical scope is world wide, with particular focus on Britain and Europe. Other areas of major interest include the United States, the Former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Far East. For Europe, both Eastern and Western, and also for Latin America, material is acquired in the languages of those areas . Works in non-European languages are not normally acquired. Back to the top FormatNo distinction is made regarding format of material. The Library will therefore collect relevant material in print, microform, video, electronic format (eg CD-ROM, on-line services). Back to the top Collection strengthsOfficial publicationsOfficial publications are collected extensively for all countries of the world to the same depth as other source materials, and by subject on the same principles as commercially published books and periodicals. Coverage of United Kingdom official publications is of paramount importance. An exchange agreement with the United States ensures an extensive collection of federal government publications. The Library therefore holds many important collections of official documents on the internal and foreign affairs of individual nations. Publications of intergovernmental organisations are collected on the same principles as governmental publications. The history and development of international co-operation and organisation are very well covered. Starting with the League of Nations, for example, there is an almost complete set of documents from 1919 to 1946; and for the United Nations, the Library has been a depository library since 1946, providing a comprehensive collection of UN publications and documents. Since 1964 the Library has been an official depository library for EDC material; the collections of EC material predate this official status, however, going back to the early 1950's, when the first of the three communities was established. Back to the top PamphletsThe Library holds over 90,000 old pamphlets, many published in the 19th century or the early part of the 20th century. The collection has an international flavour, material is published in most European languages, with a particularly large proportion in German. Here, for example, are publications from France published in 1848, Russia and Germany in the 1930's. International history is well covered, including material on the League of Nations, disarmament, pacifism and the two World Wars. Disputes such as the Middle East are also well documented. In recent years this collection has been supplemented by around 2000 pamphlets pre-1950 collections of Chatham House, covering international history and relations of the inter-war years, from Europe, USA, and the former USSR. Back to the top MicroformsIn its commitment to collect primary source material the Library has acquired many important microform sets relating to international history. Further acquisitions will be made as resources allow. Some examples:
Back to the top Special collections
Back to the top Collection development policy review for International HistoryThis collection development policy will be reviewed on a regular basis in the light of the following: developments in teaching, the interests of the Department and other departments in the School, and relationships with other libraries with whom collaborative arrangements exist. Such reviews will be conducted in co-operation with the Department of International History. Reviewed 02/05 Back to the top |
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