Purpose and Program Description

The Libraries seek to support research in English, American, and comparative literature, including both the linguistic and literary aspects of the discipline, the teaching of basic and advanced writing skills, grammar, the history of the language, and English philology together with a detailed study of all major authors and their literary masterpieces. It supports the needs of undergraduate, MA/MS and Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, post-docs, and researchers.

During the first half of the 1990’s, there was an expanding interest in the areas of women writers, African-American authors, Caribbean authors, and gay and lesbian studies.

Areas of established specialization: Writers of superior literary merit are emphasized, but in the case of American and English authors, many lesser lights are also included, even some of the more popular variety. Complete sets of collected works, especially definitive editions, are collected as are most of the important periodicals and monographic series in the field. Thorough coverage of the various aspects of the English language--its history, grammar, phonetics, morphology, syntax, rhetoric, style, composition, lexicography and philology--is maintained.

General Selection Guidelines (See classed analysis for further details)

Overall, the Libraries’ existing collection, its current acquisitions commitment, based upon available resources, and its collecting goal for English Language in Literature are all at the research level.

Specific Delimitations

1. Formats collected: We collect annuals, monographs, periodicals, reference tools and scholarly series extensively and CD-Roms and other electronic tools, newspapers, and dissertations selectively. Audio-visual materials, maps and textbooks are excluded.

2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and 20th, 19th, and earlier centuries selectively.

3. Chronological Focus: We collect materials focusing on current, 20th, 19th, and earlier century topics extensively.

4. Languages Collected: We collect English language materials extensively and Western European languages selectively. All other languages are excluded.

5. Place of Publication: We collect materials published in the United States and The United Kingdom extensively, and Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Pacific Rim nations selectively.