Download Guidelines for Sociology and Anthropology

Guidelines for Sociology and
Anthropology
Collection Analysis and Investment
Last updated August, 2013
Table of Contents
1. Purpose
2. General Collection Guidelines
A. Language
B. Chronology
C. Geography
D. Publication Date
E. Treatment of Subject
F. Types of Materials, Formats Collected
3. Area Resources
4. Related Subject Policy Statements
5. Subjects and Collecting Levels
6. Methodology
1. Purpose.
To support teaching and research for the undergraduate (BS and BA) and graduate (MS) programs. The undergraduate
program emphasizes basic principles, theories, and techniques of analysis important in research oriented careers. The
graduate program in sociology offers specializations in social history, social problems, applied statistical methods, social
theory, and urban sociology.
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology also offers a certificate program which emphasizes applied social
research.
2. General Collection Guidelines.
A. Language.
English is the primary language of the collection. English translations of works in other languages are preferred. However,
ULS acquires the original text of the writings of major sociologists if the English translation is not available.
B. Chronology.
Works on all aspects of social history are collected. Emphasis is on the twentieth century, especially contemporary
conditions.
C. Geography.
There is more emphasis on society in North America and Western Europe than on other geographical areas, but no area is
excluded from consideration.
D. Publication Date.
Emphasis is on materials published in the past thirty years. Retrospective purchasing is selective and may involve
microfilm or reprints rather than the original format.
E. Treatment of Subject.
Biographies of sociologists, minority leaders and minority members are collected selectively. Works on social history,
social problems, social research, statistical methods, and social theory are collected broadly. There is a strong emphasis on
theory, techniques, and research methods involving statistics, mathematical models, and computer applications, and these
materials are systematically acquired.
Titles on techniques and procedures, especially related to field work, are collected. Legal aspects of sociological and
anthropological topics, i.e., the legal rights of ethnic minorities, are pertinent. As a whole, undergraduate textbooks are
not purchased; however, some upper undergraduate titles, especially in anthropological field research, may be selected.
F. Types of Materials and Formats.
Most materials acquired for the sociology/anthropology collection are in book or periodical format. Indexes, abstracts,
proceedings, publications of private or quasi-public agencies, including foundations, and statistical materials of all types
are collected. Purchases of dissertations and theses from other institutions is restricted. Other instructional and research
formats for the collection may include microformed research collections, online databases, data sets, software, CD-ROM,
film, and video and audio cassettes.
ULS is a partial depository library for U.S. government documents and a full depository library for Virginia state
documents. In Richmond, numerous federal, state and local agencies are sources of statistical data and other information
useful to the sociologist.
3. Area Resources.
Students and faculty should be aware of other libraries in Richmond that also support this program. They are the
University of Richmond Law Library, the Virginia Theological Seminary Library with its HRAF (Human Relations Area
File) Microfile, the state Division of Criminal Justice Library, and the Virginia State Library. Faculty and students also
have access to the specialized collections of the Center for Research Libraries. CRL is a cooperative research library that
acquires, stores, preserves, and provides bibliographic access to a collection which supplements and complements the
collections of the major research libraries of North America.
4. Related Subject Policy Statements.
VCU Libraries | Collections Analysis and Investment
Guidelines for Sociology and Anthropology | Last Updated August, 2013
2 | Page
Because of the interdisciplinary character of the field, publications in sociology and anthropology are of interest to many
subject areas outside the disciplines themselves. Among these are social work, economics, statistics, business, education,
urban studies, psychology, gerontology, history, political science, public administration, and justice administration.
5. Subjects and Collecting Levels.
Subject
Call Number Range
Present
Desired
Archaeology
CC
C2
C2
Social and Cultural Anthropology
GN301-673
C2
C2
Folklore
GRl-950
C2
C2
Sociology of Leisure
GV14.45
C1
C1
Applied Social Science Research
H61-62
C1
C1
Demographics
HB849-1947
C1
C1
Sociology
HM
B
C1
Social History (includes Social Problems; Social Reform)
HN
C1
C1
Marriage and Family Relations
HQ1-1090
B
C1
Sociology of Women
HQ1595
C1
C1
Urban Sociology
HT101-301
C1
C1
Social Stratification
HT601-1455
C1
C1
Race Relations
HT1501-1595
C1
C1
Juvenile Delinquency
HV9051-9230.7
C1
C1
Medical Sociology
RA418-418.5
C1
C1
6. Methodology.
ULS' collection was assessed quantatively by "list-checking" the following general and specialized bibliographies:
Aby, Stephen. Sociology: a Guide to Reference and Information Sources. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1987.
Books for College Libraries. 3d ed. vol. 4. Chicago, IL: American Library Association, 1988.
VCU Libraries | Collections Analysis and Investment
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Social Science Citation Index Journal Citation Reports. Philadelphia, PA: ISI, 1988.
Handbook of Sociology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1988.
Annual Review of Anthropology. Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews, Inc., 1972- .
Loeb, Catherine R. Women's Studies: a Recommended Core Bibliography. Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1987.
VCU Libraries | Collections Analysis and Investment
Guidelines for Sociology and Anthropology | Last Updated August, 2013
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