Folklore Collection Description

The Folklore Collection at the Indiana University Libraries is the largest, most comprehensive working collection of its kind in the world. It contains approximately 41,000 monographs and 850 serials. We have over 250 current serial subscriptions, and the collection grows at a rate of 760 titles annually. It also includes a non-circulating folklore reference collection of approximately 230 titles.

Croatian Fairy Tale.

The collection houses books, monographs, conference proceedings, newsletters, and journals from all over the world. It covers all genres and specializations in the disciplines of folklore and ethnomusicology, including:

• Folk literature (myths, tales, legends, riddles, proverbs, folk speech,etc.)
• Ethnomusicology, folk music and folk song
• Folk art and folk craft
• Folk and vernacular architecture
• Manners and customs: especially life cycle rituals, festivals, and calendar customs
• Folk costume
• Folk dance
• Folk belief
• Folk medicine
• Folk religion
• Occupational folklore
• Ethnic folklore
• Urban folklore
• Popular culture
• Folklore and psychology
• Folklore and culture
• Folklore and literature

Most of the materials we collect are research publications in Western European languages, but we also collect popular works, as well as works in other languages. These include materials in the vernacular from Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The collection also includes African and Latin American materials.

• Folklore Collection Development Policy
  Provides an overview of the Folklore Collection and outlines its purpose and audience.