Collection Development Policies - Gender Studies

1. Introduction
   
   1. Purpose of the policy statement
      This statement is intended to guide the manager of the Gender Studies fund (fund 88) by explaining the purpose and scope of the collection, describing who it serves, and outlining how this fund meshes with the library funds for related subject areas.
      
      
   2. Audience
      The primary audience is made up of collection managers and other librarians and library staff.
      
      
   3. Description of institution/department and clientele
      The collection supports undergraduate and graduate teaching and research to the PhD level as well as faculty research in Gender Studies. The department has 13 full time faculty and another 20 faculty affiliates from departments across campus. It offers a BA degree and a PhD.
      
      
   4. Brief overview of the collection
      1. History of the collection
         In 1976 IU Libraries initiated a separate materials fund for Gender Studies (Women's Studies as it was known then). In 1997, the name of the program was changed to recognize its more comprehensive attention to women, men, and various aspects of gender (see http://www.indiana.edu/~gender/).
         
         
      2. Collection strengths and weaknesses
         The collection is particularly strong in the subject of sexuality (HQ12-472), for which our holdings are among the largest in North America. Other areas of strength are in the subjects of women, feminism, and lifestyle (HQ1101-2044), with a growing collection on sex role and men (HQ1075-1090). In microform, we have a substantial collection of primary materials relating to the history of women's movements.
         
         
      3. Subject areas emphasized or deemphasized
         Social science treatments of women, men, and gender are collected. Other aspects of these topics are covered by other relevant funds (see below under III).
         
         
      4. Collection locations
         The collection is located on the 7th floor of Herman B Wells Library, Research Collections.
2. Scope of Coverage
   1. Languages collected and excluded
      Most of the collection is in English, but major works in western European languages are also covered.
      
      
   2. Geographical areas covered and excluded
      The major emphasis is on works concerning North America and Britain, but works in English concerning Third World countries are also collected.
      
      
   3. Chronological periods covered and excluded
      All chronological periods are covered, but most historical materials are collected by the librarian for history.
      
      
   4. Dates of publication of materials collected; current vs. retrospective coverage
      Emphasis is on current coverage.
      
      
   5. Formats collected and excluded
      Most of the collection is in print and electronic format, but microforms are also collected.
3. Collecting Responsibility
   Collection Manager: Carrie Donovan.
   
   Social scientific treatments of this topic, especially specifically feminist works, are covered by this fund. Most works on sexuality per se, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues are covered by the larger sociology fund. Works on literature and history are covered by the collection managers for English, History, and Modern European languages. Most area studies treatments are collected by collection managers for area studies. Materials on women's health and gynecology are collected either by Life Sciences (those with a biological emphasis), or the School of Public Health (for an applied health emphasis).
   
   
4. Related Collections
   
   
5. Principal Sources of Supply and Major Selection Tools
   • YBP approval plan
   • Harrasowitz approval plan (selectively)
   • Book reviews (especially Women's Review of Books)
   • Catalogs
6. Preservation
   1. Criteria for selection for preservation and/or mass deacidification
      Follow the physical criteria specified by Preservation Dept.
      
      
   2. High-priority areas of the collection for preservation review and treatment
      Materials that have few holdings in OCLC should receive first priority. Other criteria for priority include: IU authors, local (Indiana) interest, and material that circulates often.
7. Selection Criteria for ALF
   • Duplicate serials, including serials duplicated in JSTOR that are more than ten years old
   • Monographs published before 1980 that have never circulated (with the exception of: reference works, festschrifts and other edited collections)
8. Digital Projects
   1. Priorities for collections to be digitized
      Materials that have few holdings in OCLC should receive first priority. Other criteria for priority: IU authors; local (Indiana) interest; and material that circulates often.
9. Other Resources and Libraries
   The Kinsey Institute Library (http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/) contains collections that are pertinent to gender studies. IU faculty may use the Kinsey collections; IU students and other researchers must apply for permission.
   
   The GLBT Library (http://www.indiana.edu/~glbt/library/) contains books, videos or magazines about Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender history, literature, humor, art, families, legal issues, relationships, biographies, and cultures.
   
   
10. Consortial Agreements
    None.