Library Science

Purpose: No Library Science degrees or courses are offered at W.S.U. The purpose of the collection is primarily to support continuing education and professional development for WSU librarians, as well as state-of-the-art surveys and materials for problem-solving. Emphasis is almost exclusively on publications relevant to academic libraries, although some materials on librarianship in general may be purchased. Some materials on school library/media centers are purchased on a highly selective basis to support K-12 education courses. To support the interest in consulting by WSU librarians, and their efforts to establish ties with foreign university libraries, selected purchases are made of materials concerning foreign libraries, international aspects of librarianship and international networking.

1. Languages: English-language only.
2. Chronological Guidelines: Emphasis is on current aspects of the subject, except selective purchases of historical materials on history of the book and the book trade.
3. Geographical Guidelines: Emphasis is primarily on the United States with some selective purchases of material on foreign libraries, international aspects of librarianship and international networking.
4. Treatment of the Subject: Primary emphasis is on practical works. Works with a historical or biographical treatment are purchased only very selectively. Works on theoretical aspects of library and information science are acquired selectively. Works dealing with legal aspects of librarianship and publishing (e.g., copyright, censorship, etc.) are purchased if relevant to academic libraries. The library does attempt to acquire all the key publications of the American Library Association and the Association of College and Research Libraries.
5. Types of Material: Materials include monographs, periodicals, reference works, government documents. Non-print media (e.g., user education films or DVDs) are acquired selectively.
6. Date of Publication: Primary emphasis is on current works.

Because the A.L.A. collecting levels are closely tied to academic degree levels, and Library Science is not taught at WSU, it is difficult to assign specific levels. Probably the closest equivalent for collecting in Library Science is: Level C(1) ("Advanced Study Level"), with the following subject emphases: