University of Waterloo Library The accompanying Collection Development Policy statement is submitted by Christine Jewell, Liaison Librarian for the Department of Religious Studies, and is approved by the undersigned. Associate University Librarian, Information Resources & Services Department Chair Liaison Librarian Faculty Library Representative Date: 2006 Page 1 of 6
University of Waterloo Library Collection Development Policy statement for Religious Studies. Date Completed: Persons Responsible for Collection The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian, Christine Jewell, in consultation with the Faculty Library Representative, Mavis Fenn. Department Description and Purpose The Department of Religious Studies is a co-operative venture involving five founding and contributing institutions: the four affiliated and federated institutions (St. Jerome's University, Conrad Grebel University College, Renison College, and St. Paul's College) and the Faculty of Arts of the University of Waterloo. The Department offers general and honours undergraduate degrees. A Doctor of Philosophy degree is offered by the joint Laurier-Waterloo PhD program in religious studies. Materials collected support teaching, learning, and research needs of faculty and students in the following areas: world religions; history of the Christian tradition; Biblical studies; theology, philosophy, & ethics; and religion, society & culture. The joint Laurier-Waterloo PhD program offers a concentration in the religious diversity in North America. Scope of Coverage Language For core materials, the emphasis is on the English language and translations into English. Materials in major western European languages are collected if relevant. Geographical areas Coverage emphasizes the following geographic areas: Europe, North America, the Middle East, India, China, and Japan. Chronological periods Selective coverage extends from ancient times to the present day. Places of publication Priority is given to materials published in North America and Europe as well as Asia, particularly for materials focussing on Eastern traditions. Dates of publication Retrospective as well as currently published materials are collected. Page 2 of 6
Types and Formats of Materials Collected In general, the Library does not acquire materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the Library. Included The following types of materials are generally included: books, periodicals, reprints, facsimiles, reference works, symposia, conference proceedings, festschrifts. The following formats are generally included: print, microforms, electronic format. Collected Selectively The following types of materials are collected selectively: dissertations and theses, manuscripts and unpublished materials, government documents, pamphlets. The following formats are collected selectively: films, videos, slides, computer software, sound recordings. Excluded The following types of materials are generally excluded: newspapers, textbooks. Subjects Collected (For further explanation about collecting levels see Appendix 1) Anthropology of Religion Ecology and Religion History of Religion Greek and Roman Religion History and Development of Christian Thought History of the Christian Church Modern Religious Thought New Religions Religion in America Religion in Canada Philosophy and Religion Psychology of Religion Personality and Religion Religion and Identity Love and Friendship Religion and Society Cults and New Religious Movements Death and Dying Millennialism & Violence Religion and Popular Culture Religion and the Internet Religion, War, and Peace Religious Responses to Political Oppression Sociology of Religion Basic/Reference Out of Scope (see Classical Studies Policy) Out of Scope (see Philosophy Policy) Page 3 of 6
Religion and the Arts Religion and Film Religious Art Religions in Dialogue/Inter-religious Relations Religious Ethics Religious Ethics and International Affairs Religious Studies Theory and Method Sacred Places Women and Religion Christian Feminist Thought Gender and Asian Religions Gender and Sikhism Worship in Religious Traditions World Religions Christianity Anglican Tradition Biblical Studies Christian and Comparative Thought Christian Fundamentalism Christian Theology Eastern Christians in Canada Eastern Churches (i.e. Orthodox, Coptic, etc.) Jesus: Life and Legacy New Testament Parables of Jesus Paul: Life and Letters Eastern Religions/Asian Religion Buddhism Hinduism Religion in Modern India Religions of China Sikhism Islam Islamic Theology, Philosophy & Mysticism Judaism Great Texts in the Jewish Tradition Jewish Biblical Interpretation Jewish Culture and Thought Hebrew Prophets Holocaust and Film Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism Out of Scope (see Fine Arts Policy) Out of Scope (see Fine Arts Policy) Out of Scope (collected by STJ) Out of Scope (collected by STJ) All collections are systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that essential and important resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles containing outdated information are withdrawn as necessary. Classic retrospective materials are retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research. Page 4 of 6
Library of Congress Outline Religious Studies B123 Philosophy. Buddhist B130-133 Hinduism/Philosophy B163 Philosophy. Islamic B740-753 Philosophy. Islamic/Medieval BJ 1188-1295 Religious Ethics BL Religions. Mythology. Rationalism BM Judaism BP Islam BQ Buddhism BR Christianity BS Bible BT Doctrinal Theology BV590-1652 Ecclesiastical theology BV5070-5095 Mysticism/Christianity BX Christian Denominations HN30-39 Church and social problems N7790-8199 Religious Art Z7751-7860 Religious Literature/Bibliography Other Resources Available The Library explores opportunities for collaborative purchases with the Ontario Council of University Libraries and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. The Conrad Grebel College Library collects in the following areas: Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies Anabaptist-Mennonite History and Theology New Testament Studies Protestant Evangelical Theology The St. Jerome s University Library collects in the following areas: Catholicism Christian doctrines Ecumenism Psychology of Religion Religious Ethics Roman Catholic Church Saints Science and Religion Sociology of Religion Theology Women in Religion Ecology and Religion Liberation Theology Christianity and Social Justice Resources of the Wilfrid Laurier University Library are available to students enrolled in the joint Laurier/Waterloo PhD in religious studies. Page 5 of 6
Appendix 1 Explanation of Levels of Collecting, adapted from RLG Guidelines Levels of Collecting Out of Scope Materials to support research and curricula in this subject area are not covered in this Collection Policy Statement. Coverage of interdisciplinary subject areas and topics linked across departments can be identified with references to other Collection Policy Statements. Basic Information/Reference Level The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important reference works, general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited selection of representative general periodicals are collected. (Undergraduate) The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study. Materials collected include a wide range of reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection of monographs and periodicals. Access to owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including texts, journals, data sets, etc. is provided. The collection includes major published source materials required for master s degree programmes, doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including appropriate foreign-language titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs, archival materials, and back-runs of serials are acquired as necessary. Adapted from RLG guidelines. Page 6 of 6