15. OVERSEAS COLLECTIONS: SPECIFIC SUBJECTS
15.1 The Library’s collections are strong in the social sciences and humanities and these strengths will be built on in developing the collections. The following subject list reflects the areas of existing strengths as well as current collecting intentions. The Library’s collecting, however, is not confined to these subject areas. General works on all aspects of the social sciences and humanities are collected as part of the Library’s collection of materials of broad general interest and works reflecting outstanding issues of current interest or matters of public debate are particularly sought.
Anthropology
15.2 The historical collection contains works by the acknowledged major writers in the field of anthropology and spans a wide range of geographical regions. Major serials and reference resources in the subject have been acquired over the years. A high level of interest in Australia’s Indigenous people and in the peoples of the Pacific has meant that related collections in anthropology are often at research level, with additional coverage provided by materials held in the Library’s pictorial collections. Materials relating to customs, culture, costume, etiquette and folklore are well represented, especially in relation to Asia and the Pacific.
15.3 The Library maintains collecting at an introductory level on anthropology, culture and institutions (Collecting level 1) ensuring that coverage is given to major trends and conceptual developments sufficient to provide a background for studies in Australia and the region. Material about East Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific is collected at an intermediate level (Collecting level 3).
Art and Architecture
15.4 The Library’s collection of material on the visual arts is a basic general collection of wide historical and geographic coverage. There is an emphasis on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and on the East Asia and Pacific regions. In the field of architecture, a basic collection covering the extensive historical and geographical variety of the subject has been assembled, including publications which document the life and work of many outstanding architects, and descriptions and evaluations of outstanding individual achievements.
15.5 Works relating to art and architecture are collected at a basic level (Collecting level 1). Reference sources and works on art and architecture and their relationship to cultural and social developments are collected. Some additional emphasis is given to the traditional architectural and art forms of Asia and the Pacific. The National Gallery of Australia, a number of university libraries and specialist tertiary institutions, and the libraries of the various state galleries collect more extensively in the fields of art and architecture including works on individual artists and movements. Museology is collected at a basic level (Collecting level 2) to support, in the first instance, the Library’s own program of preservation and exhibition activities.
Biography
15.6 An extensive range of biographical compilations and biographies of major authors is held in most subject areas. The Library continues to collect biographies of notable figures in all subjects, together with extensive compilations of biographical information that support research in the social sciences.
15.7 Biographical material is collected at the level at which the subject or discipline itself is covered. Reference works are collected to cover international as well as national scope, and may also be acquired at regional levels for subjects or disciplines collected at research level.
Economics, Commerce, Communications and Transport
15.8 The Library has a well-developed, predominantly English-language collection of works on economics. Major economic theorists are well represented, while several specialised collections, such as the Making of the Modern Economy lend historical depth to the existing collection. Back runs of many major journals have been obtained. Information on the economic situation in individual countries and regions has been collected to research level in the past. Works on banks and banking have been collected in similar depth. A basic collection, strong in reference and directory information, has been collected in the fields of commerce, communications and transport.
15.9 The Library continues to develop its collection to ensure the documentation of current developments in economics, the inter-relationship of politics and economics and the past history of the topic from the countries of East Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Works are collected on economic conditions of these countries, the economics of resources, production and labour, banking, public finance and the economic issues of development.
15.10 Works on economics and related topics as they relate to the situation in other parts of the world are collected to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3) in the case of economics and to a basic level (Collecting level 2) in related topics. Emphasis is given to works on the global economic situation, those providing the international context for specific developments, background and contextual studies of the topic, original and authoritative surveys, and overviews of world trends containing useful reference information.
Education
15.11 The monograph collection is a basic one and serves to acquaint the user with the full range of developments and theories, with some additional strength in the history of a number of outstanding higher educational institutions, mainly in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
15.12 Works on education are collected to a basic level (Collecting level 2). These cover the theory of education and aspects relating to policy development and the planning of educational systems. Additional emphasis is given to works about education in the Asia-Pacific region. Consistent with past practice, the National Library does not acquire text books, curriculum materials, teacher education resources and related materials.
Genealogy
15.13 A limited range of genealogical resources is acquired in the form of information on names and their origin, reference tools on genealogy and heraldry, orders, decorations, flags and epitaphs. The Library also provides access to several online databases in this subject area.
Geography
15.14 In the field of geography, the Library’s historical serial and monograph collections are broad enough to support the systematic study of most countries and regions in the world, though not necessarily their detailed physical and ecological characteristics. A special strength of the collection is the detailed regional descriptions it contains of the United Kingdom. A strong reference collection has been developed, with an emphasis on the acquisition of gazetteers. The collection is strongest for those geographical regions in which the Library has traditionally collected, namely Europe, North America, East Asia and the Pacific. Cartographic materialsare dealt with separately in chapter 9.
15.15 Works on geography are collected to a basic level (Collecting level 2). A selection of national guides, together with major regional, city and special interest guides is acquired and kept up-to-date. Reference works, including those on the origin, history and meaning of geographical names, handbooks, bibliographies, encyclopaedias and travel information are collected. Some collecting is carried out in support of the Library’s map collection (see chapter 9) and covers topics such as land use, map making and economic and human geography. Descriptions and accounts of travel are selected according to the provisions for History (see paras 15.16-15.19). In keeping with longstanding National Library practice, works consisting largely of photographs are not generally collected unless the pictorial content is of exceptional value or interest. Works relating to East Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific are collected to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3).
History
15.16 The Library has attempted to collect, in depth, works on the political history of all nations. The existing collection represents a partial fulfilment of that aim. A strong basic collection covering the history of many nations has been developed. For some parts of the world, in particular the United Kingdom, the United States of America and some countries of Asia and the Pacific, the collection has been developed to research level. Periods of turmoil and conflict, including the French Revolution and its aftermath, both World Wars and the conflict in Vietnam are well-represented. The serials collection has been developed to encompass a wide selection of general historical titles and a large variety of national serials. Microform and electronic research collections have been acquired to support areas of strength. Recognising the strength of the historical links between Australia and the United Kingdom, genealogical research resources for the United Kingdom are well-represented in the collection.
15.17 Apart from the history of the Asia-Pacific region (see para. 15.19), this topic is now collected more selectively with the Library collecting in the subject of history to a basic level (Collecting level 2). Works acquired cover the philosophy and theory of history, accounts of global movements and accounts of social, cultural and political events and issues. The Library also acquires a selection of general historical serials and reviews of contemporary events to enable current information needs to be met.
15.18 Works covering the history of the late eighteenth century onwards, especially where the content relates to trends and events within and concerning Australia, are collected at a higher level (Collecting level 3). In the implementation of this policy, the Library ensures that differing interpretations and points of view are represented.
15.19 The Library’s substantial history collections on East Asia, South-East Asia, South Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific continue to be developed. Works from East Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor are collected at research level (Collecting level 4). Collecting from other parts of South-East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia is maintained to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3). The focus of the Library’s collecting for Asia-Pacific is on the modern period (essentially the mid-nineteenth century onwards), but works on earlier periods are collected at a basic level (Collecting level 2). Coverage ranges from the national level to the regional level, and in the case of the Pacific to the local level. The microfilm products of the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau continue to be acquired.
Journalism and Publishing
15.20 Works on journalism and publishing are collected at an introductory level (Collecting level 1). The collection is designed to provide a background to developments and trends in publishing, printing and journalism throughout the world. Major new works on the history of publishing and printing are acquired. Overseas newspapers are discussed in chapter 18 of this collection development policy.
Language and Linguistics
15.21 The collections include major bilingual dictionaries where one language is English, polyglot dictionaries, monolingual dictionaries and specialist term language dictionaries for the major languages of the Asia-Pacific region. The Library’s strongest holdings relate to the languages of the Pacific. These are supported by manuscript resources held on microfilm. Because much of the scholarship in this field and region is Australian-based, the resources of the Library’s Australian holdings give additional strength to this subject area. The linguistics and philology of East Asia and of South-East Asia have some depth and there are strengths in English linguistics and philology. The rest of the collection may be considered as a good basic collection.
15.22 Materials on languages, linguistics and philology are collected primarily for their reference value. Current language dictionaries are collected as part of the reference collection. Resources on the languages, linguistics and philology of Asia and the Pacific are collected somewhat more intensively (Collecting level 2).
Law
15.23 Overall, the collection is at intermediate level with additional strengths in some areas. Within the monograph collection, areas of law represented in relative depth include international law, constitutional law, environmental law, human rights, and legal bibliographies. The serial collection of law reviews is substantial. There are some areas of strength in law reports, particularly old English law reports, American state and federal law reports, Indian law reports and works on Indonesian traditional law. The Library’s collection of legislation is particularly strong for Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (including state material held on microfiche in the State Session Laws). Legislation from Asia and the Pacific is also well represented. The Library has complete holdings of all treaties registered with the League of Nations from 1926 to 1946 and treaties registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations from 1947 to the present.
15.24 The Library’s collecting in law focuses on international law and the collection of law materials from the Asia and Pacific region. The Library also collects a range of legal reference materials, such as encyclopaedias, treaty and legislation indexes, serial indexes and legal research guides.
15.25 In the subject of international law, the Library collects to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3). Materials collected include international treaties and law reports, conventions and the publications of a wide range of international bodies such as the United Nations, the International Court of Justice, the International Law Commission, the International Commission of Jurists, a variety of human rights bodies and other commissions dealing with legal issues. The Library also collects on a selective basis general treatises and serials, which provide both commentary and interpretation in the field of international law.
15.26 While the Library has maintained a significant print collection of legislation at the national level from Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States of America in the past, legislation from these jurisdictions is increasingly available on the Internet. Where access to this material is readily accessible, the Library may provide access to this material in electronic format rather than collect the legislation in print.
15.27 The Library collects to research level (Collecting level 4) in law as it relates to East Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor. Collecting from other parts of South-East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia is to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3). Legislation, law reports, reference sources and works on a wide variety of legal topics, including the social aspects of law and law reform, are collected.
Library Science
15.28 The Library has a good cross-section of the monograph and serial literature of library science. The collection is at the intermediate level with some aspects of the discipline which are relevant to the Library’s own fields of operation held at research or near-research level. These include all the functions associated with the development, control, management and preservation of a large collection; the provision of reference, referral and document delivery services from it; functions of national coordination and international liaison; and activities of management, promotion and innovative technological support related to any and all of these functions.
15.29 The Library collects library science materials which provide a contextual framework for policy development in the specialised field of librarianship and of library and information services and which otherwise relate to its own full range of activities and services. Collecting in this subject area is maintained to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3). Topics include collection development, the application of technology to library operations, electronic resources, digitisation, bibliographic control, management and preservation; the provision of reference, referral and document delivery services; international liaison and national coordination activities; library promotion and use of technology in libraries.
Literature
15.30 The collection varies considerably according to the country of origin. It is rich in the classics of Greek and Latin antiquity. The earlier literature of the United Kingdom (pre-1801), the United States of America (pre-1820) and Canada (pre-1900) can be considered a research level collection, with many major authors held in a variety of authoritative complete editions. These resources are complemented by strong microform holdings. For authors published in the twentieth century and beyond, the collection is uneven. Contemporary serious fiction, drama and poetry is held only through selected representative examples. A strong collection of literary works in the languages of Western Europe and works in Russian is characterised by similar early strength and later unevenness. The resources held in some Asian languages, particularly those of East Asia, are quite strong, but for most other languages the holdings are minimal although they may include the occasional scholarly edition of an author’s complete works. Popular fiction from overseas is not covered to any significant degree.
15.31 Literature in the English language, whether original or in translation, is collected selectively with a representative collection of prose, poetry and drama from major contemporary authors selected for both its literary value and for its coverage of social and cultural issues. Winners and short-listed nominees of various international and regional literary awards are also collected. Original and significant cultural studies may be acquired as background or contextual material for an understanding of other subject areas maintained by the Library. Major literary biographies, selected literary criticism and serials are also acquired. A representative collection of literature from Asia and the Pacific is maintained. A selection of literary criticism pertaining to the contemporary literatures of these countries is also acquired.
Management, including Accounting, Advertising and Public Relations
15.32 Works on management theory, human resource management, leadership, planning and resource management are collected at the basic level (Collecting level 2). Accounting, advertising and public relations are collected at an introductory level (Collecting level 1). The Library also provides access to a wide range of online databases in this subject area.
Maps
See Chapter 8.
Military Science
15.33 Military science is represented at a basic information level. The history of individual armed conflicts has been collected at greater depth (see para. 15.16).
15.34 Military science is collected at a minimal level (Collecting level 1). The collection is limited to strategic and policy aspects as they relate to politics and history. For other aspects of military science the Library does not seek to duplicate the extensive collections of the Australian War Memorial and the library of the Australian Defence Force Academy.
Music
See Chapter 9.
Performing Arts
15.35 The Library’s collections in the performing arts are uneven and have at best been developed to a minimal level. There are, nevertheless, good holdings of biographical works and some areas of relative strength such as theatre and dance, including ballet. Printed works related to film and the film industry have been collected to an intermediate level. In relation to the Library’s Asia-Pacific collections, there are a few specialised areas, such as Japanese traditional theatrical forms, where the collection permits independent study.
15.36 Standard works on film, television, radio, theatre, dance and other public performance presentations together with biographies of outstanding figures in these disciplines are collected on a selective basis. Additional emphasis is given to traditional performing art forms of Asia and the Pacific.
Philosophy
15.37 The collection is strong enough to support sustained independent study in many aspects of philosophy, especially nineteenth century and early twentieth century British and American thought. The collection of basic, specialist and national journals and publications of learned bodies gives a wide overview of contemporary ideas and developments.
15.38 General works on philosophy are now collected more selectively to the minimum level (Collecting level 1). Materials acquired may include works on specific schools of philosophy, ethics, the sociology of philosophy and general developments in philosophy.
Physical Education and Recreation
15.39 The collection is generally at a minimal level. Some topics such as the Olympic Games have been collected more extensively. Formed collections on cricket and angling give some additional strengths to the collection.
15.40 The Library acquires a limited selection of works on physical education and recreation (Collecting level 1) to provide an indication of international trends and related policy issues. Some works are acquired to provide comparative information on popular culture in other parts of the world and to reflect Australian participation in international sporting events such as the Olympic Games. Specialist institutions such as the Australian Institute of Sport play a more important role within the national library system in relation to physical education, while publications on recreation are widely collected by public libraries.
Political Science
15.41 The Library’s holdings in this subject area have been developed to research level with particular strength in government and public administration, publications and archival records of a number of government agencies (especially British), political parties, pressure groups and politically active individuals. The Library has collected, mainly in microform, substantial collections of radical texts, pamphlets and related literature issued by both left and right wing political movements at various periods in history. The collection includes a strong collection of current and retrospective monographs and is supported by a wide selection of international newspapers and serials. A rich variety of published, microfilmed or electronic primary sources and research material including parliamentary and congressional debates and the deliberations of international assemblies, supplements this core. Additional depth is provided by material classified as history (see paras 15.16-15.19).
15.42 Political science is collected selectively with works on politics and the political situation in other parts of the world being collected to a basic level (Collecting level 2). Additional emphasis is given to the coverage of current events and works on political theory, international relations, diplomacy, civil and political rights, and major political movements and trends. Biographies of major political and diplomatic figures are acquired. Works from East Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor are collected at research level (Collecting level 4). Collecting from other parts of South-East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia is maintained to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3).
Psychology
15.43 The Library collects works on psychology to a minimal level (Collecting level 1). A limited selection of works is acquired to provide an overview of current trends and developments in this discipline. Some works are acquired in the field of applied psychology, in areas such as human relations, human development and communication where these explain and define general social, cultural and management issues.
Public Administration
15.44 A strong collection of monographs and a wide selection of serials on government and public administration form the core of the Library’s collection in this topic. A variety of primary sources and related collections classified as history give research level to the Library’s collections.
15.45 Works on public administration are collected to a basic level (Collecting level 2). General works on the subject are acquired. Additional emphasis is given to works about public administration in the Asia-Pacific region
Reference works
15.46 The Library collects a range of reference material in support of its role as a provider of reference and information services to the Australian community. Guidelines for the Reference Collection can be accessed at < www.nla.gov.au/policy/refshelf_guidelines.html >.
15.47 Information that previously appeared in print publications, such as guides, directories and bibliographies is increasingly available on the Internet. Where such information is readily accessible, the Library may provide access to this information in electronic format rather than collect the printed item.
Religion
15.48 The collection has been developed to a level capable of supporting sustained independent study in many fields of religious thought and history. For Christianity, a wide and representative collection of bibles is held ranging from a facsimile of the Gutenberg bible to modern translations in a variety of languages. These are supported by a range of scholarly commentaries. Patristic texts and commentaries, records of missionary activities, especially in the East Asian and Pacific regions, and the collected writings of major and even secondary religious figures. Devotional texts and evangelical writings are less well represented. The foundational texts of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam have been collected in various original language editions and translations. The subject of theosophy is also well-represented in the collection.
15.49 General works on religion are also collected selectively to the minimal level (Collecting level 1). Materials acquired may include works on systems of religious belief, world religions, comparative religion, the sociology of religion and general developments in religion useful as contextual works or as background to the Library’s existing collections. Collections relating to Asia and the Pacific, including accounts of missionary activity, continue to be developed at a higher level (Collecting level 2).
Science
15.50 It has never been an objective for the Library to develop an in-depth science collection. General and historical aspects of science and technology are well represented in the collection. In most areas the Library collected to meet basic information needs and built a few additional areas of strength. In the 1970s strengths were developed in the life sciences. Science and medical collections in other Australian academic and teaching institutions have developed and expanded, lessening the need for the Library to maintain extensive collections in these subject areas.
15.51 Strengths in the area of engineering and technology included an extensive collection of backsets of serials, collections of official standards from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, a collection of abridgments of nineteenth century British patents as well as the publications of a number of leading professional organisations. Computer science was collected to a basic level.
15.52 The agriculture collection was developed to a basic information level, through the acquisition of major texts, leading serial titles, and proceedings of major overseas conferences as well as through exchanges with various agricultural establishments and depository arrangements with bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
15.53 Earth sciences were collected at a basic level but the collection was given some depth by material acquired through deposit and exchange arrangements with various government instrumentalities and learned bodies, such as geological surveys, meteorological offices and oceanographic institutes.
15.54 The chemistry, mathematics and the physical sciences collections were the least developed among the sciences. There was some strength in the foundations of mathematics where the collection supplemented earlier works on logic or general philosophy, but the collection does not extend beyond the minimum level. In chemistry and the physical sciences, the Library built up a small collection which gave an overview of the field concentrating on significant technical developments and emerging social, environmental and health issues.
15.55 The current policy is to collect works relating to all science subjects in sufficient depth to provide a basis for the understanding of scientific principles and developments as they relate to culture, policy development and matters of public debate concerning social and ethical issues in the field.
15.56 The Library collects works by major authors and scholarly presentations of outstanding current issues as well as a collection of basic serials and authoritative overviews. Biographical and historical works covering the lives of outstanding figures, and histories of individual disciplines or major branches of science and technology continue to be acquired. Topics include the environment, energy, public health, conservation, land-use, automation and communications. In the case of the last two, special emphasis is given to materials which are concerned with changes in scholarly communication and information technology. Major reference works are acquired, up-to-date surveys and, on a selective basis, general interest monographs and serials. Advanced technological and research material such as that required to support postgraduate research is not acquired. The Library continues to collect standards published by the International Organization for Standardization.
Sociology
15.57 A strong collection on sociology has been developed at the intermediate level. This collection includes classic works in the discipline together with publications which reflect the diversity of modern developments. The collection is especially strong in material dealing with social problems, social policy, welfare and services.
15.58 The Library collects works in sociology to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3). A range of material is collected in the fields of social problems, social policy, social reform, social welfare, criminology and penology, the family, marriage, gender and human sexuality, communities, classes, races and social groups. Works from East Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor are collected at research level (Collecting level 4). Collecting from other parts of South-East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia is maintained to an intermediate level (Collecting level 3).
Statistics
15.59 A variety of statistical information has been collected by the Library with particular attention given to official statistics, census results, and financial and commodity information from national and international agencies. An historical depth has been developed through retrospective purchases and the acquisition of microfiche sets, especially of census data and national economic plans. Government publications and yearbooks, many of them in long serial runs, are an outstanding feature of the collection.
15.60 Statistical source material from overseas is collected to a basic level (Collecting level 2), including guides, bibliographies and substantial runs of serial publications. The collection attempts to include yearbooks, census data for select countries, monthly compilations of economic and other statistics, and a range of general, social, demographic and economic data, as well as catalogues and listings of publications. Works from East Asia, Thailand, Indonesia and East Timor are collected at research level (Collecting level 4). Collecting from other parts of South-East Asia, the Pacific and South Asia is maintained to a basic level (Collecting level 2). While the Library continues to acquire statistical material from Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States of America and comparative statistical information from intergovernmental organisations such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, this information is increasingly available on the Internet. Where this is the case, the Library may provide access to this material in electronic format rather than collect the printed item.
