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Sociology
Introduction Collection development policy review for Sociology IntroductionThe general policy for Sociology 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 Sociology 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 Social Policy and Social Psychology. Back to the top Selection criteriaGeneral scopeAn outline is given below, but in general terms the Library collects material on sociological theory and methodology, and all aspects of the social analysis of modern and contemporary societies. The following is an outline of the subject scope and coverage of collecting policy for Sociology:
Sociological theory Back to the top Geographical area and languageGeographical scope is world wide, with particular focus on Britain, Europe, the United States, Latin America, and developing countries. 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), and provide access to remotely held datasets. Back to the top Collection strengthsOfficial publicationsThe Library's collections of governmental and intergovernmental publications are a major source of primary material for sociological research in many areas. Official publications are therefore 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. For other countries we aim at completeness in those central government publications which contain economic or social data or illustrate the processes of government and public administration. State/provincial and local government publications are not collected extensively. Back to the top StatisticsThe collection of statistical publications from national governments, international organisations, and other bodies is a central aim of collecting policy. Collection of national statistics has focused principally on annual abstracts; population censuses; trade statistics; and national accounts. In addition, for major countries the Library has also sought to collect data on industrial production, agriculture, social affairs, income and expenditure, finance and various other topics. The broad subject scope is matched by the availability of long time series. Back to the top Archives and Special collectionsThe Library widely collects the published results of social survey data, but also holds some historically significant collections of major surveys relating to British social life and conditions: Booth SurveyPapers of Charles Booth's survey of life and labour in London. They consist of the working papers for "Labour and Life of the People", and "Life and Labour of the People in London", by Charles Booth (1885-1905) including the original survey notebooks, interviews, statistics, reports and maps. The collection includes extensive survey material on living conditions, employment and religious life of the London working classes. New survey of LondonThe New Survey of London was begun in 1928 and concluded in 1933 as a deliberate attempt to update Charles Booth's survey of Life and Labour in London, of the 1880's. It was one of a number of inter-war social surveys that sought to examine the extent and causes of working class poverty, and is the only one for which the records survive both in their original form and (almost) in their entirety. Two microfiche collections of note: Please see the Archives Division's collection policy. Back to the top PamphletsThe Library's historically rich collection of pamphlet material covers many aspects of social life and social change in Great Britain and many other areas from the early 19th century onwards. The ongoing collection of pamphlets and ephemera is core to the Library's collection policy. Back to the top Collection development policy review for SociologyThis 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 Sociology. Reviewed 02/05 Back to the top |
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