National Library of Australia


UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE CONSPECTUS REPORT
SOCIOLOGY

Pat Knight, Divisional Collection Management Librarian - Arts & Humanities, with the assistance of Margaret Black, Assistant Divisional Collection Management Librarian - Arts & Humanities

December 1998

  1. Aims
  2. Methodologies
  3. Disciplines Within the Sociology Conspectus Division
  4. Sociology Program, Department of Political Science
  5. The Library's Collections
  6. List Checking
  7. Shelf Scanning
  8. Evaulation by Academic Staff
  9. Assessment of the Sociology Collection
  10. Areas of Collection Strength
  11. Areas Needing to be Enriched
  12. Acknowledgements


1. AIMS

1.1 To evaluate the University of Melbourne’s Library collections falling within the Dewey classification numbers 300-305, 306.8, 307-309, 326, 360-369, and 649.

1.2 To identify areas of the collections which need improvement in currency and scope.

1.3 To lay the foundation for a collection management policy for the subjects covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division.

2. METHODOLOGIES

The collections were assessed using criteria set out in the Australian Conspectus Manual.[1]

Note: Low use materials are housed in the Kidd’s Warehouse. Items held in Kidd’s have not been included in this Conspectus evaluation.

3. DISCIPLINES WITHIN THE SOCIOLOGY CONSPECTUS DIVISION

The Sociology Conspectus Division covers the following subject disciplines and interdisciplinary areas:

In addition the Division also contains areas of interest to political science, social psychology and medical anthropology.

4. SOCIOLOGY PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

4.1 Research in Sociology

4.2 Department of Criminology

4.2.1 Research in Criminology

4.3 School of Social Work

Research in the School is organised primarily, but not exclusively, through the operation of five Practice Research or Practice Research Policy Units;

4.3.1 Social Work Research

4.4 Department of Geography & Environmental Studies

4.4.1 Research in Geography & Environmental Studies

4.5 Women’s Studies Program

The Women’s Studies Program is an interdepartmental program which is housed in the Department of History.

4.5.1 Research in Women’s Studies

4.6 Cultural Studies

Cultural studies is an area of interest to the Department of English and the School of Fine Arts, Classical Studies, and Archaeology (Cinema Studies program).

4.6.1. Research in Cultural Studies includes :

5. THE LIBRARY’S COLLECTIONS

The Library’s collections are housed in a total of 25 libraries, some of which are small branch libraries and others which are more sizeable. The collections relating to the subjects covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division are housed in three main collections in the University Library; the main collection of the Baillieu Library, the Research Collections (the B and AB collections) in the Education Resource Centre (the ERC), and the ERC’s main collection. There are also collections of material relevant to Geography and Environmental Studies and Criminology in the Architecture and Planning Library and the Law Library respectively.

The Library has a microform collection of some 1,347,000 items which is housed in the Baillieu Library. The collection covers both serials and monographs, many of which are of importance for scholars doing historical research. Material is arranged in accession number order so cannot be browsed by subject. Material in this collection has not been included in the total volumes recorded in the Conspectus database.

The Library also has a number of special collections, collectively housed in the Special Collections Section of the Baillieu Library. These collections include an extensive range of material, much of which is rare and/or of historical value.

5.1 Microform Collection

There are number of items of historical value to disciplines within the Sociology Division, in particular women’s history and emancipation.

5.2 Special Collections

The information recorded on the Conspectus database does not include a count of material in these Special Collections.

5.2.1 BX Collection
This historical collection of non-Australian works contains about 170 volumes of books falling within the Dewey areas covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division. These are divided roughly evenly between the early Dewey 300s and the 360s.

5.2.2 McLaren Collection
This uncatalogued collection of about 50,000 volumes of books, serials, newspapers, pamphlets, parliamentary papers and ephemera covers a broad range of subject areas, including crime, the environment, women and youth. It consists mainly of Australian publications and includes a comprehensive collection of material on crime published in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

5.2.3 Greig Smith Social Work History Collection
This collection of books, journals and pamphlets consists of early works on social welfare and social work published between the 1890s and 1950s. It takes up approximately two bays of shelving.

5.2.4 McPhee Gribble Archive
This archival collection of correspondence, manuscripts, production, financial and administrative records contains the records of the independent, Australian, feminist publishing house, McPhee Gribble, from 1975 until its takeover by penguin in 1989. It takes up approximately 70 metres of shelves.

5.2.5 The Willis Collection
This collection comprises about 2,000 volumes of fiction and non-fiction relating to homosexuality.

6. LIST CHECKING

The following bibliographies were used to check the Library’s collections against available publications in the areas covered by this Conspectus division:

Sociology

Criminology

Social Work

Environmental Studies/Human Geography

Women’s Studies

6.1. Sociology

6.1.1 Monographs
Overall the Library holds 60.9% of monographs listed in the three sources checked. This would indicate that the collection of sociology monographs is relatively good. There appears to be some consistency between all the bibliographies in the percentages held.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

International Bibl. of Sociology

300

196

65.3%

The Social Sciences

23

14

60.9%

Webb

386

222

57.5%

Total

709

432

60.9%

6.1.2 Serials
The Library subscribes overall to 44.2% of journals listed in the two sources checked. It was interesting to note the results of the two checks of Sociological Abstracts. Intuitively it would be expected that the Library would hold a higher proportion of core journals, those titles fully indexed by Sociological Abstracts, but the results did not bear this out. The Library holds 34.4% of the core titles, but 51.9% of the sample taken across the complete range of titles.

Bibliography

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

The Social Sciences

27

15

55.6%

Sociological Abs. (a)*

206

107

51.9%

Sociological Abs. (b)*

192

66

34.4%

Total

425

188

44.2%

* Sociological Abs. (a) - a sample of one in ten titles was checked

Sociological Abs. (b) - only those journals fully indexed were checked

6.2 Criminology

6.2.1 Monographs
The Library holds 54.9% of the monograph titles listed in the bibliography of Walters’ Foundations of Criminal Science (volume 1). This is a reasonably good percentage, but it should be noted that the book does not cover all aspects of criminology. There was some difficulty in identifying a suitable, current bibliography against which the Library’s collection could be assessed.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Walters

297

163

54.9%

6.2.2 Serials
Overall, the Library subscribes to 59.1% of journals sampled from the three indexing sources. The apparent discrepancy between the results from Criminal Justice Abstracts and the other two sources can probably be attributed to differences in the sampling used. The titles checked from Criminal Justice Abstracts were identified as core titles (with most articles being indexed) whereas titles from CINCH and Criminology, Penology & Police Science abstracts were selected across the full range of titles. It would be expected that the Library would be more likely to hold the core titles in the discipline and this has been borne out by the results.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

CINCH

94

52

55.3%

Criminal Justice Abstracts

58

45

77.6%

Crim., Penol. & Police Sci. Abs.

129

69

53.5%

Total

281

166

59.1%

6.3 Social Work

6.3.1 Monographs
It was difficult to identify a recent bibliography which covered the full range of areas of interest to social work. David Macarov’s, Social Welfare : Structure and Practice, while concentrating on the welfare aspect of social work, does have a reasonably broad coverage. The Library holds 54.9% of the titles sampled.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Macarov

131

72

54.9%

6.3.2 Serials
The Library subscribes to 59.4% of the journals indexed in Social Work Research & Abstracts. This would indicate that the more important journals in the field are held and that the collection is quite good.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Social Work Research & Abs.

96

57

59.4%

6.4 Environmental Studies/Human Geography

6.4.1 Monographs
Sixty point two percent of monograph titles checked from Merideth’s, The Environmentalist’s Bookshelf are held by the Library. This bibliography lists a broad range of monographs on the environment, including some of the more popular classics such as Rachel Carson’s, Silent Spring. The percentage of these held indicates that the Library’s collection is a well-rounded one.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Merideth

206

124

60.2%

6.4.2 Serials
The results of checking the journals indicate that overall 37.7% of titles are held, but there is inconsistency between the results from Francis : Bibliographie Geographique Internationale and the other two sources. This can probably be explained by the high proportion of non-English language titles indexed by Francis. As might be expected, a slightly higher proportion of titles are which have been identified as ‘primary’ by Environmental Abstracts Annual are held than those selected across the full range of titles.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Environment Abs. Annual (a)*

80

38

47.5%

Environment Abs. Annual (b)*

92

51

55.4%

Francis: Bibl. Geog. Int.

153

24

15.7%

Geog. Abs. : Human Geog.

187

80

42.8%

Total

512

193

37.7%

* Environment Abs. Annual (a) - a sample of one in ten titles was checked

Environment Abs. Annual (b) - only those journals identified as ‘P’ (primary) were checked.

6.5 Women’s Studies

6.5.1 Monographs
The Library holds 68.6% of the monograph titles checked in Watson’s, Feminism and Women’s Issues. This source covers a wide range of issues relating to women and women’s issues in westernised nations. A figure of 68.6% suggests that the Library has a reasonably, good collection of materials on women in the westernised world. Further checking of other bibliographies with a more specific coverage of women and development issues would, however, provide a more complete picture.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Watson

121

83

68.6%

6.5.2 Serials
The Library’s holdings of 39.3% of serials titles of checked across the three sources seems to indicate that there are some gaps in the collection. A visual scan of the journals listed shows that the Library does not subscribe to some of the more popular titles, such as Ms. and Spare Rib, but there are also gaps among the more scholarly journals. The discrepancy between the results from Watson and the other two sources could be partly accounted for the degree of overlap between the titles indexed in Women’s Studies Index and Women’s Studies Abstracts, with 36 titles appearing in both.

Bibliography.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Watson

48

15

31.2%

Women’s Studies Abstracts

56

23

41.1%

Women’s Studies Index

78

29

37.2%

Total

182

67

36.8%

6.6 Entire Sociology Conspectus Division

6.6.1 Monographs
Overall the Library holds 60.1% of the monograph titles checked across all the discipline areas covered within the Sociology Conspectus Division. This would indicate a reasonably good coverage.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Total

1588

955

60.1%

6.6.2 Serials
Holdings of serials across the Conspectus division are more varied, ranging from 36.8% of those titles checked in the women’s studies area to 59.4% in social work. Overall 44.9% of the journal titles sampled are held by the Library.

Number Checked

Number Held

% Held

Total

1496

671

44.9%

7. SHELF SCANNING

In addition to list checking, shelves were also scanned to count the number of volumes at each subject line, the date ranges, the languages, and any titles worth noting.

8. EVALUATION BY ACADEMIC STAFF

Academic staff from the Departments of Political Science (Sociology Program), Geography and Environmental Studies, Criminology, History, and Psychology, and the School of Social Work were invited to participate in the evaluation of the collection, by identifying the areas of collection needing to be developed to meet teaching and/or research needs.

9. ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIOLOGY COLLECTION

9.1 Monographs

The total collection of monographs in the Dewey ranges included in the Sociology Conspectus Division amounts to over 64,350 volumes. This is a relatively strong collection, particularly of English language material. The collection could be further enhanced by a greater emphasis on English language publications from Asia. The monograph collection meets the goal level of 3b (intermediate: augmented).

9.2 Serials

In 1998 the Library has approximately 360 journal subscriptions classified in the Dewey range covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division. There is a problem for some departments in that serial subscriptions account for almost the entire departmental library allocation. This leaves little flexibility to acquire new titles. In addition, this year, inflation and the fall of the Australian dollar against some currencies has meant that a large number of serials of relevance to this Conspectus Division have had to be cancelled. The effects of this will begin to be felt in 1999 and it inevitable that the current rating of level 3a (intermediate: introductory) will need to be revised downwards. Increased use of document delivery and access to more full-text sources electronically may alleviate the situation for learners and researchers but it is unlikely that the collection’s goal level of 3b (intermediate: augmented) will be met within the foreseeable future. The Library will need to address the issue of access versus ownership in future reviews of its serials. and research needs.

9.3 Reference Works

The Library has a wide range of general reference material in the disciplines covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division. This material includes dictionaries, handbooks, directories, encyclopaedias, biographical sources and bibliographies. The collection level of level 3b (intermediate: augmented) meets the goal level, but new material needs to continue to be acquired if the collection is to retain this collection level in the future.

9.4 Indexing & Abstracting Resources

The University Library holds or provides access to a wide range of indexing and abstracting tools, in both print and electronic form, which are of interest to the areas covered by the Sociology Conspectus Division. The collection is judged to be at a level 4 (research). Titles include:

10. AREAS OF COLLECTION STRENGTH

10.1 Sociology of the Family

The family is an area of teaching and research interest across a number of departments in the Faculties of Arts and Education. To support these studies the Library has built up a strong collection of monographs and serials, particularly materials published in the last two decades. The collection is judged to be at a research level (level 4).

10.2 Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is a rapidly growing area of interest to researchers. In 1998 the University introduced three higher degree programs in forensic psychology: Master of Forensic Psychology, Master of Criminology (Forensic Psychology), and Doctor of Psychology (Forensic). The Library has a good collection to support this research, but needs to ensure that new publications, including journals, are acquired as they are published if the collection is to be maintained at its current level (level 4, research) .

10.3 Women’s Studies

Women’s studies and studies relating to women’s issues are taught and researched across a number of departments including History, Social Work, Political Science, and Geography and Environmental Studies. Although there are some gaps in the Library’s collection of serials relating to women’s studies and feminism, the monograph collection is a strong one. The Library also has extensive microform collections in this area, in particular on the history of the women’s movement. The collection is at level 4 (research).

10.4 Ecologically Sustainable Development

The Library’s holdings of material on ecologically sustainable development is mainly to be found at Dewey 333.7 (covered by the Business & Economics Conspectus report), 363.7 and 711.4 (Art & Architecture report). The collection across these areas is a strong one and is rated as level 4 (research).

10.5 History of Social Work

Social work was first taught at the University in the early 1940s and over the years the Library has built up a collection reflecting the development of the profession, not just in Australia but also overseas. The Greig Smith Social Work History Collection, already covered under Special, Collections (point 5.2.3), adds to the Library’s strength in this area. The collection is judged to be at a research level (level 4). An additional resource at the disposal of researchers is the professional library of the late Dr. Leonard James Tierney, the former Head of the School. This is housed in the School of Social Work and is not part of the Library’s collection.

10.6 Child Welfare

The School of Social Work has had a long tradition of specializing in child welfare and has made a large contribution to government policy and practices. Child welfare is also of interest to the University’s Faculty of Education The Library’s collections have been built up over a number of years and reflect changing attitudes to, and policies in, child welfare. The collection is rated at research level (level 4).

11. AREAS NEEDING TO BE ENRICHED

11.1 Environmental Studies

In the past five years there have been several growth areas within the range of environmental studies. Areas of interest to the University’s teaching and research programs include tourism and the environment, environmental policy and regulation, international environmental governance, environmental history, and environmental philosophy. Although programs within the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies have until recently focussed mainly on Australia these are now being broadened to include Asia Pacific studies. An example of this development can be seen in the area of environmental issues and development, particularly in regards to Japan, China (including Hong Kong), Korea, and Singapore. The collection is a strong one, but in order to achieve the goal of level 4 (research), regional resources , including serials, need to be built up

11.2 Social Impact Assessment

Social impact assessment is an area which has recently been re-introduced into the teaching program at honours level. Much of the monograph material in the Library is over a decade old, so as well as current titles, material published throughout the 1990s needs to be acquired - the latter somewhat more selectively. The collection needs to be developed to a level 3b (intermediate : augmented).

11.3 Ageing

There is a thrust within the University to an interdisciplinary treatment of ageing, across economics, psychology, social work, health, geography, and architecture and planning. As well as being a major research area for the School of Social Work, the study of ageing also features in its undergraduate and masters work. Although the Library has reasonably large collections of monographs at Dewey 305.26 and at 362.6, much of it is older material. There are gaps in the journals collection in this field, the major omissions being new journals. The collection is currently at a level 3a (intermediate : introductory) and needs to be built to a level 4 (research).

11.4 Crime Prevention

Crime prevention is an area of teaching and research interest within the University. The collection is currently rated as 3a (intermediate : introductory). The goal level is 4 (research).

11.5 Victimology

Victimology is a relatively new area which is showing a growth in publishing output. While the Library acquires the majority of monographs from the main publishing houses in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Britain, through blanket orders and approval plans, publications from the smaller publishers also need to be identified and purchased. The collection is rated as level 3a (intermediate : introductory) with a goal level of 3b (intermediate : augmented).

11.6 Statistical Sources relating to Criminology

The Department of Criminology relies on statistics from the police, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and international sources to support both teaching and research programs. While the Library receives complete collections of ABS material, police statistics have not always been collected consistently and there are gaps which need to be filled. Some international crime and corrections statistics are available on the Internet, particularly those relating to the United States. Others from countries with similar jurisdictions to Australia, such as Canada, New Zealand, and England and Wales also need to be made accessible, either in hard copy or electronically. The collection needs to be developed to a level 3b (intermediate : augmented)

11.7 Drugs and Crime

Drug related crime is another growing area of research interest, particularly crime and offenders who abuse drugs. The current collection level is 3a (intermediate : introductory). This needs to be improved to a level 3b (intermediate : augmented).

11.8 Sentencing and Imprisonment

The Library has a reasonable collection of materials on sentencing and penology, but statistics from jurisdictions comparable to Australia (New Zealand, Canada, England and Wales) are needed, as well as annual reports of government departments of justice. The collection is currently at a level 3a (intermediate : introductory). The goal level is 3b (intermediate : augmented).

11.9 Sociology of Health and Illness

Sociology of health and illness is taught at an undergraduate level and there is now some postgraduate research being carried out. The collection has been developed to a level 3a (intermediate ; introductory), but to support current teaching and research needs adequately it needs to be further developed to a goal level of 3b (intermediate : augmented). The addition of three key journals would further enhance the Library’s collections. Materials covering the sociology of health and illness are classified mainly in three Dewey areas, 305s, 362s and 612s.

11.10 Medical Anthropology

Medical anthropology is a growing area of teaching and research within the University as evidenced by its importance within the Centre for the Study of Health and Society; a centre established by the faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Arts. The collection has benefitted from additional funding and overall is currently at a level 3b (intermediate : augmented). The goal level is 4 (research). Attention needs to be paid in particular to the areas of medicine and development, Koori health, health and human rights, and the history of racial theory

11.11 Women’s Studies in the Asia Pacific Region

The Library has a strong collection of monographs on women’s studies as it relates to the western world. This material has been acquired over a number of years through approval programs from British, American and Australian library suppliers as well as through the ordering of individual titles. There is an increasing emphasis within the University on gender studies in the Asia Pacific region, in areas such as family, gender and household, and women and human rights. The Library needs to develop its collection of materials published within the region. As well as monographs and journals published through the mainstream publishers, newsletters , magazines and reports from the region are also needed by researchers. The goal level is level 4 (research).

11.12 Political Psychology

Although political psychology is not on the University’s teaching program, the Department of Political Science has an international reputation for research in this area. The political psychology collection is one that needs to be extended and updated. A criticism received from a researcher is that the Library does not subscribe to many of the newer journal titles published within the past 10 to 15 years. While the majority of publications would fall within Dewey number 320.01, there are other numbers, (mainly the early 300s) which also need to be considered. Overall the collection in political psychology is rated at 3a (intermediate: introductory). The goal level is at least level 3b (intermediate: augmented) or 4 (research).

11.13 Social Psychology

The library has a strong collection of monographs relating to social psychology and also has the core journal titles. However, for the collection to be rated at level 4 (research) some work needs to be done in acquiring newer journal titles, particularly in some of the more applied fields.

11.14 Sexual Politics

This broad, interdisciplinary area is of teaching and research interest to the University. Although the Library’s collection of women’s studies material is at a research level (level 4), the growing areas of gay and lesbian studies and men’s studies need to be further developed if they are to attain this level.

11.15 Social Policy

Social policy is an area of strong interest to teaching and research in politics, social work and criminology. The collection on social policy in Australia and social policy in general needs to be developed (particularly the most current material) to a level 3b (intermediate: augmented)

11.16 Cultural Studies

This growing area of study within the University includes media and cinema studies, postcolonial studies, cultural theory, and popular culture. While contemporary material from mainstream publishers in Australia, New Zealand, Britain and North America is being acquired, the collection also needs to be extended to include pre-1990 material and material in English published in Asia. As well as books and journals, video and computer media are needed. The goal level for cultural studies in 3b (intermediate: augmented) or 4 (research).

11.17 Sociology of Scientific Knowledge

This is an area of study which began to be developed in the 1970s, particularly in Britain. It became important for the University’s Department of History and Philosophy of Science in the 1980s and this is reflected in the Library’s collections. There has been a recent upsurge of interest in the area and, as a result, there is a need for more recent material to be acquired. The collection needs to be developed to a level 3b (intermediate: augmented).

12. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank the academic staff from the Departments of Political Science (Sociology Program), Geography and Environmental Studies, Criminology, History, Psychology, and English, and the Schools of Social Work, and Fine Arts, Classical Studies, and Archaeology, who generously gave their time in assisting with this assessment.

REFERENCES

1 Henty, Margaret. Australian Conspectus Manual: A Collection Assessment Guide. Rev. ed. Canberra: Australian Council of Libraries and Information Services, 1992.


Last modified: August 18 2004.