Wellesley College Library

Collection Development Policy for Mathematics

Subject Specialist: Deborah Lenares (x3596)
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The collection development policy for Mathematics guides the development and management of the math collection. This policy is for the use of the Science Librarian for Collections and the Science Library's users. The policy will be updated as needed. Faculty and students are encouraged to provide recommendations for library materials.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION
The math collection supports the undergraduate mathematics curriculum offered at Wellesley College. To a limited extent, the collection supports departmental research in specific areas of interest. The collection is used primarily by math majors, by students pursuing majors leading to graduate study in economics and business, medical school, computer science, teaching K-12 and by students in certain other math-intensive science courses. Students fulfilling course distribution requirements in the sciences are also users of the collection.

Material is acquired covering subjects such as mathematics theory, applied mathematics, calculus, geometry, statistics, probability, numerical analysis, graph theory, linear algebra and operations research. Selected specific departmental research interests encompass areas such as: differential geometry, commutative algebra, partial different equations, combinatorics, complex analysis and geometric topology. Published material from the major national mathematical societies (e.g. Mathematical Association of America, American Mathematical Association ) is favored and selectively purchased to support courses currently being taught. All mathematics materials, both general and reference collections, are housed in the Science Library, except for pre-1970 runs of selected journal titles which are housed (and are retrievable by request) at an off-site facility.

The Mathematics Department offers a program leading to a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Additionally, the Quantitative Reasoning overlay course requirement for all Wellesley students is fulfilled by several 100- and 200-level math classes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Types of Materials: Materials are bought in all formats, with emphasis on the journal literature. The library's increasing acquisition of electronic journal access has led to cancellation of paper format in instances where the electronic vendor has an established reliable reputation and an acceptable plan for back-file/archival access to the content. Paper vs. electronic format decisions are made based on content, optimal use, license agreements and costs for acquisition and maintenance. Other publication types, such as conference proceedings are selectively acquired when their topics overlap with current curricular offerings. Materials supporting specific coursework such as lab notebooks, problem/answer sets, and textbooks are purchased infrequently and in limited quantity to support reserve collection activity.

Readership Level: Material is bought at the college level, with emphasis on upper undergraduate/early graduate works. Entry level material is acquired selectively for courses supporting distribution requirements.

Languages Collected: The primary language of the collection is English, however, older literature in foreign languages is maintained in the collection as mathematics majors are expected to acquire reading knowledge of at least one foreign language such as German, French or Russian. Today, foreign language works, if selected, are purchased in English translation.

Geographical Areas Covered (intellectual content or publication source): Materials are routinely purchased from all areas of the world with no exclusions.

Chronological Periods Covered (intellectual content): There are no restrictions on intellectual content of the collection. Current history of science material is bought selectively to support current course offerings. Typically, primary mathematical works of historical significance are not purchased although referrals can be made to the Selector for Special Collections for the history of science collection housed there.

Chronological Period Covered (publication dates): Current materials are the focus of almost all purchasing, but a strong retrospective collection, especially in the journal literature, is maintained. Recently the Library has started to purchase (ongoing) electronic archival content of existing paper collections and of collections previously unavailable on campus. Selective retrospective titles are acquired rarely to fill gaps or to enhance archival coverage in our journal collection.

Shelving Locations: Paper copies of books and journals are housed at the Science Library (with the exception of most pre-1970 journal literature). Electronic access to many databases and online full-text documents is provided through the college website.

Reference: Reference material for mathematics is purchased by the Science Librarian for Research and Instruction and follows the general subject parameters of the math collections policy. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following types of material: biographies, dictionaries/thesauri/nomenclature aids, encyclopedias, style and/or literature guides, and occasional electronic search aids and directories which support curricular or related professional programs.

Access to MathReviews is provided via the college website.

RELATED SUBJECTS & INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIPS
Mathematics supports every science discipline, including computer science. Interdisciplinary support is offered as follows:

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Page Created: November 2005
Last Modified: March 7, 2008
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