Collection Policies
Contents
- Purpose and Scope of the Collection
- Factors Influencing Collection Policy
- Analysis of the Subject Field
- Collection Management Issues
- Donations
- Definition of Collection levels
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Purpose and scope of the collection
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Curricular/research/programmatic needs
The mathematics/statistics collection serves the research and instructional needs of faculty and students in mathematics and statistics/probability as well as other disciplines. Both the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics/Probability offer Masters and Ph.D. programs in addition to undergraduate degrees. Service courses are provided to large numbers of students in other disciplines. To a limited extent, the collection also serves the general public.
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History of the collection
The mathematics/mathematical statistics collection at MSU was originally housed in the Main Library. When the Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Building opened in 1949, a branch library was created in that building which housed mathematics, physics, and astronomy materials. In 1967, the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics & Probability moved to the new Wells Hall on the south side of the Red Cedar River. The mathematics materials were moved to A304 Wells Hall near the departmental offices.
In 1968 the Department of Mathematics was awarded a National Science Foundation Centers of Excellence grant and a significant portion of that grant was used for new physical facilities for the library and expansion of the collection. The library was named in honor of Vernon G. Grove, professor of mathematics at MSU from 1920-1958, for "his major role in establishing a tradition of distinguished mathematical research and scholarship" at MSU. The Vernon G. Grove Research Library, popularly referred to as the Mathematics Library, opened in 1970 on the first floor of the 3-story D-wing of Wells Hall. An atrium reaching all three stories enhances the contemplative environment of 7,000 sq. ft. and its comfortable seating for 70. The staff consists of about 16 student employees, one library assistant, and the librarian.
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Collection strength and emphases
The monograph collection of about 47,000 is complemented by some 830 journal titles of which approximately 330 are current. The Library's proxy server allows MSU-affiliated individuals access to MathSciNet and 254 electronic journals. The 100+ Math Video Collection is conveniently located with new serials and new books in the Faculty Alcove.
The current collection emphasizes pure mathematics and mathematical statistics. Applied mathematics and statistics are collected on a selective basis to meet the instructional and research needs of the faculty and graduate students. The history of mathematics is not being collected as extensively as in the past due to limited funds. Collected works are not usually selected except in the case of contemporary giants. Basic textbooks are usually not purchased.
The books displayed in the faculty display case have been written or edited by a faculty member, past or current, in the Department of Mathematics, the Department of Statistics & Probability, and the Division of Science and Mathematics Education. These books, unless designated for reserved reading, may circulate with a two-week loan period. Additional copies, if available, are shelved in the book stacks and circulate with a normal loan period. The Librarian gratefully acknowledges your donations of these monographs.
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Factors influencing collection policy
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Anticipated future trends
The library is proactively collecting in more diverse areas to meet the research and instructional needs of new faculty.
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Relationships with other resources
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On campus branch or format collections, if any
The Mathematics Library collection primarily supports research and graduate instructional needs in mathematics/statistics, but limited advanced undergraduate mathematics and statistics materials are provided. A small collection in the Main Library provides the elementary materials in mathematics/statistics.
In addition to mathematics education titles selected by the education selector for Main, highly select mathematics education titles are purchased for the Mathematics Library. Mathematics education faculty in the Mathematics Department are heavily involved in the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP), funded by the National Science Foundation to develop a complete middle school curriculum for teachers and students.
The Engineering and Biomedical and Physical Science (BPS) Libraries collect selectively in a few pure mathematics areas such as differential equations, complex variable theory, and advanced calculus. Applied mathematics materials are chosen selectively by Mathematics, Engineering, BPS, and Main according to the interests of the users of these libraries. The BPS Library has the primary collection in mathematical physics but the Mathematics Library also purchases in this area. Control theory is purchased primarily in Engineering, but some purchases are made in Mathematics and Main.
The Mathematics Library acquires materials in mathematical logic, but Main also has materials in this area. Main has the primary collections in mathematical biology and mathematical economics, but Mathematics does collect some mathematical biology. The computer science collections are in Main and Engineering; software manuals or texts for Mathematics are purchased only to meet critical instructional or research needs.
Computer science materials are purchased by Main and Engineering. The Mathematics Library does buy books in control theory and coding theory, and a few books are purchased in automata theory, information theory, systems science, and operations research.
The primary collection in mathematical statistics is in the Mathematics Library but quantitative methods in the social sciences and other scientific fields are usually collected by Main or the appropriate branch library. The Mathematics Library does selectively acquire applied statistical materials as indicated by the research interests of the faculty and graduate students in statistics.
Recent years have seen a shift from the Mathematics Library to the Business Library for actuarial materials as faculty interests have shifted and budgets have become tighter. Business and Main are the primary collectors of the mathematics of finance and commerce.
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Regional or network resources
There has been an increasing reliance on getting more materials through interlibrary loan. The CIC mathematics librarians discuss cooperative collection development at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference each year. Collection development is done with cognizance of the comprehensive mathematical literature collection at the University of Michigan and the resources available at Wayne State. The mathematics collection at the University of Michigan is rated at a 5--Comprehensive Level, and considered a regional resource center in the Research Libraries Group.
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Relationships to resources treated in other policy statements
The collection policy statement for mathematics/statistics is of necessity related to the collection policies for engineering, physics, business, and education as indicated above.
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Analysis of the subject field
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Chronology of the subject: emphases/restrictions
Mathematical publications do not age to the same extent as publications in other sciences. So it is desirable to keep older publications on-site as much as possible. But the emphasis is on collection of current materials. A number of publishers have active reprint programs for materials in mathematics if retrospective materials are needed. The Mathematics Library's materials bugdet provides the fund for aquisition of mathematics-related material for both the Main Library and the Mathematics Library. The Mathematics Librarian is the selector of mathematics-related material for both the Main Library and the Mathematics Library.
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Languages of resources collected: exclusions/emphases/translations
The emphasis is on English language materials, but foreign language materials, particularly French and German, are also collected. Russian and Chinese publications are often available in translation and some of these are collected.
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Geography of the subject: emphases/restrictions
U.S., Canadian, and European materials tend to be emphasized but there are no restrictions.
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Format of the resources collected: restrictions if any
Print materials are complemented by electronic resources such as abstract & indexing sevices (e.g., MathSciNet), electronic journals, select databases, and a significant collection of mathematics-related videos. Some mathematics/statistics software packages are purchased by Software in Main.
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Date of publication of resources collected: emphases if any
Emphasis is on current imprints, but retrospective collection development is done as necessary.
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Deselection
Deselection applies, but is not limited, to outdated text-books, duplicate copies, superceeded reference material, and works in poor condition.
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Collection management issues
Specific policies, if any, on replacement, deselection, out of print acquisition, preservation, etc. decisions are made on a case by case basis. Replacements are ordered only for high circulation monographs.
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Donations
The Mathematics Library actively seeks and welcomes donations. Financial contributions are placed in an endowment fund to purchase print or non-print resources. Please contact the Mathematics Librarian for specific information.
Materials are accepted with the understanding that not all items received may be added to the collections. Because of space limitations; condition (materials requiring preservation are not acceptable); and the objectives of the collection development policies, the Libraries reserve the right to dispose of unneeded materials by sale, as give-aways, or as exchange or gift to other libraries. The Libraries may ask to pre-select needed items before donations are delivered to the libraries. Donor may be asked to list journal titles and volumes so that the Libraries can check holdings before accepting journals. The following types of material are normally not accepted: outdated textbooks, paperbacks, and books in poor condition. Donors are encouraged to discuss potential donations directly with a representative of the Libraries prior to bringing in their contributions.
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Definition of collection levels
Collection levels
MSU's Mathematics Library collection levels are found here. ALA defines collection levels as follows:
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Minimal Level: A subject area in which few selections are made beyond very basic books.
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Basic Information Level: A collection of up-to-date general materials that serves to introduce and define a subject.
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Instructional Support Level: A collection that is closely tied to the needs of the curriculum:
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Undergraduate Support level: a collection that is adequate to support undergraduate instruction.
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Upper Level/Graduate Support level: A collection that is adequate to support undergraduate instruction and most upper level / graduate instruction or independent studies.
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Research Level: A collection that includes major published source materials required for research needs.
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Comprehensive level: A collection in which the Library includes all significant works of recorded knowledge for a necessarily defined and limited field.
The Mathematics Library's collection levels are currently primarily at 3A and 3B with a few approaching 4. MSU does not attempt to collect at intensity levels of 4 or above, since the mathematics collection at the University of Michigan is rated at a 5 -- Comprehensive Level, and considered a regional resource center in the Research Libraries Group.
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