Collection Development Policy for East Asian Languages & Literature
Subject Specialist: Leslie Kriebel (x2366)
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The collection development policy for East Asian Languages and Literature (EALL) and East Asian Studies (EAS) guides the development and management of these collections. This policy is for the use of the selectors for these collections. The selector for the East Asian Languages and Literature collection collaborates with selectors for other disciplines (including Political Science, Women's Studies, Anthropology, History, Religion, Art History, Art, Music) to acquire materials in support of the East Asian Studies interdisciplinary major. This policy will be updated as needed. Faculty and students are encouraged to provide recommendations for library materials.
GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION
The East Asian collection primarily supports the undergraduate curriculum in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language and literature, and in East Asian area studies. The collection serves as both a reference and research resource for student language, literature, and area studies, and is used by majors as well as members of the broader College community. The collection also supports faculty teaching and research to a limited extent.
Current collecting interests include translated and original language literary texts and criticism to support courses on culture, literature, and film of East Asia, taught mostly in English. Selectively the Library acquires the collected works of key writers and cultural leaders, with particular interest in women authors and leaders. Although language classes in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean were first offered at Wellesley in 1966, 1985, and 2005 respectively, parts of the East Asian Languages and Literature collection date back to the late 19th century, reflecting the College's long relationship with Asia. Recently, the College's Education Department, in cooperation with the Chinese and Japanese faculties, has begun to offer a preparatory certification program for the teaching of foreign languages in primary and secondary schools. To this end, the Library acquires some teaching materials in English to support the training of teachers of Chinese and Japanese as a second language at the primary and secondary school levels. Current focus is on the development of the Korean language and literature collection, as well as the development of a Japanese film collection in support of new course offerings.
In language studies, the Library acquires materials which support language teaching and learning. To this end we acquire a limited number of reference and language materials in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. In support of language students, we have a variety of materials in English which provide elementary explanations (textbooks, grammar books, readers, print and multi-media conversation tools) as well as materials which provide background on the history, social aspects, and philosophies of the language cultures. For advanced students and researchers, we selectively collect specialized dictionaries, phrase and grammar books, and other resource materials in all three languages as well as English which cover special grammatical forms, parts of speech, and translation issues. Responsibility for selection and location of reference materials, such as dictionaries and encyclopedias, is done in collaboration with the Reference and Instruction Group.
For literature studies, materials are acquired in English as well as the original language. Priority is currently given to the acquisition of literary works and anthologies taught in translation, original language editions of the collected works, papers, and autobiographies of key women writers and cultural leaders, as well as acquisition of original language editions of literary works taught in translation. The Chinese literature collection supports a curriculum which is largely taught in English translation. This historical collection is traditionally strong in works in Chinese and English from the Tang and Qing dynasties as well as the Republican period. It includes representative works of authors from other dynasties including Ming, Song and Yuan, and has a very limited set of pre-Tang (pre-618 AD) works in Chinese. In recent years, the Library has developed a large audio-visual collection of contemporary Chinese (PRC) cinema and television drama. The more recently developed Japanese literature collection, which is primarily in English translation, is strongest in 20th and 21st century fiction, poetry and plays, and selectively collected works of key Japanese literary figures. The recently established Korean literature collection consists primarily of translated works and criticism of 20th and 21st century fiction and poetry.
In area studies, selectors in a variety of subjects collaborate to acquire materials in support of the interdisciplinary major East Asian Studies. Inquiries about specific materials should be directed to the appropriate selector, or may be directed to the East Asian Languages and Literature Selector for initial consultation and referral. If the material in question is in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, the EALL Selector should be the first contact.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Types of Materials: Materials are bought in all formats (paper, electronic, CD, DVD) but this is still primarily a print collection. Other publication types, such as conference proceedings are rarely acquired unless their topics overlap with current curricular offerings and are of a level appropriate to undergraduate scholarship. Materials supporting specific coursework such as audio tapes, audio-visual materials, and textbooks are evaluated with faculty consultation, and purchased as needed. The Library also maintains a core collection of print and online journals concerned with East Asian languages, literatures, and area studies.
Readership Level: Material is bought at all levels, with emphasis on beginner and intermediate levels for language learning materials, and upper undergraduate/early graduate levels for literary and reference materials.
Languages Collected: Most materials for this collection are published in English-in order to offer students support, background, and greater explanatory depth when needed in core language skills and constructs. Materials acquired for the literature collections can be in English or any of the East Asian languages offered. Current emphasis is on acquisition of literary works in both English and the original language whenever possible. Current focus is on the development of the Korean language and literature collection.
Geographical Areas Covered (intellectual content or publication source): Materials are routinely purchased from United States, United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Intellectual content primarily focuses on the cultures and literature of China, Japan, and Korea, but is not exclusive of the cultures and literatures of the peoples of Hong Kong, Taiwan, or members of these language groups who are living in the United States. Materials are not collected on minority languages of China, Japan, and Korea. Minority literature in English translation may be collected very selectively.
Chronological Periods Covered (intellectual content): Intellectual content of the collection is largely dictated by changes in the East Asian Literature and Studies curricula.
Chronological Period Covered (publication dates): Current materials are the focus of almost all purchasing, but a strong retrospective collection is maintained particularly as it supports current course offerings and student research. With changes in course emphases and faculty interests, the Library may seek to acquire older collections of original language editions and reference works to fill out current holdings.
Shelving Locations: Paper copies of books and journals are housed at the Clapp Library. Electronic access to relevant reference sources (such as the Bibliography of Asian Studies) and online full-text journals (ex: JSTOR) is provided through the campus-wide computer network.
Reserves:Paper, audio, and visual materials for student reserves is handled by the Knapp Center in Clapp Library which oversees all reserves activity. Extensive access to technology supporting language study is encouraged and supported. A very limited number of print texts are purchased to support reserves.
Reference:Reference material for EALL is purchased by Joan Campbell, Reference Librarian for Research and Instruction, and follows the general subject parameters of the EALL collections policy. The scope includes, but is not limited to, the following types of material: a variety of language and specialized dictionaries/thesauri/nomenclature aids; cultural, literary and political encyclopedias; style guides; atlases; finding aids from local research libraries; and occasional electronic search aids and directories which support curricular programs. Bibliographies are acquired very selectively. A subject page directing students to Library resources in East Asian Languages and Literature can be found at: http://www.wellesley.edu/Library/Research/eastasian.html
The Library currently subscribes to several electronic databases in support of the East Asian Languages and Literature and East Asian Studies curriculum including: the Bibliography of Asian Studies, and Asian-American Drama.
RELATED SUBJECTS & INTERDISCIPLINARY RELATIONSHIPS
EALL is an interdisciplinary department the core of which includes the faculties of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Faculty from other disciplines are a part of the East Asian Studies (EAS) program. Collecting for these two majors therefore requires the active cooperation of a number of selectors in various subject areas.
Art/Art History: The East Asian Languages and Literature selector primarily purchases literary, and biographical materials, as well as those on folklore and mythology which may be supportive of background research in East Asian Art. The EALL selector and Art selector may collaborate on the acquisition of cultural and historical treatments of memorials and artifacts of literary as well as artistic and architectural importance, and on other acquisitions projects which will be of interest to both faculties. The Art selector selects material specifically related to the art and architecture of East Asia.
American Studies: The East Asian Languages and Literature selector will primarily purchase literary materials originating in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Literature, in English, by or about East Asians in the United States may be acquired by other selectors such as the American Studies selector unless specifically requested for course work by faculty in the East Asian Languages and Literature Department.
Philosophy: The East Asian Languages and Literature selector will purchase original works of classical literature and poetry, as well as literary criticism of those works, to support coursework in classical Asian language study. This may include works that fit into genres such as Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist literature, folklore, and myths. In support of the curriculum offered by the Philosophy Department, the Philosophy selector will be responsible for purchasing any secondary scholarly materials and primary philosophical works on East Asian philosophy.
Religion: The East Asian Languages and Literature selector will purchase original works of classical literature and poetry, as well as literary criticism of those works, to support coursework in language and literary studies. This may include works that fit into genres such as Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist literature, folklore, and myths. The Religion selector will be responsible for purchasing any secondary scholarly materials and primary religious tracts on East Asian religions as required by the Religion curriculum.
Women's Studies: The East Asian Languages and Literature selector will primarily purchase literary materials that originate in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, and that are by or about East Asian women. Literature in English, by or about East Asian women in the United States, may be acquired by other selectors, such as the Women Studies selector, unless specifically requested for course work by faculty in the East Asian Languages and Literature Department.
Political Science: The Political Science selector is primarily responsible for acquiring materials in support of courses offered in Political Science on East Asia. The East Asian Studies selector will work closely with the Political Science selector to acquire materials in support of the broader EAS and EALL curriculum.
Anthropology: The Anthropology selector is primarily responsible for acquiring materials in support of courses offered in Anthropology on East Asia. The East Asian Studies selector may acquire anthropological materials to support broader cultural studies or courses outside Anthropology.
History: The History selector and the East Asian Studies selector will collaborate on the acquisition of materials on the history of East Asia as required by the History curriculum and in support of liberal arts coursework in EALL and EAS.
Music: The Music selector is responsible for acquiring materials in support of courses offered by the Music Department on East Asia.
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