Purpose and Program Description

The Libraries seek to support research in pure mathematics and mathematical statistics. It supports the needs of undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, post-docs, researchers and staff members.

1. In addition to the Ph.D. program, there are two Masters Degree programs. A Masters in Pure Mathematics was first offered in 1993. The second, a Masters in Mathematics of Finance, offered in conjunction with the Business School, was begun in the Fall of 1997. A course in the Mathematics of Physics, offered jointly with the Physics Department, was first offered in the Fall of 1998. There is also a large undergraduate program in college algebra, calculus, and analytic geometry.

   Areas of established specialization are algebra, geometry, topology, number theory, knot theory, and complexity.

2. The Statistics Department has grown dramatically in recent years. The Department offers a Masters Degree program in addition to the Ph.D. program. Joint courses with the School of Public Health and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are part of the curriculum. Undergraduate courses are offered in conjunction with Columbia College and Barnard College.

   Areas of established specialization are data analysis, time series, and probability.

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 Mathematics and Statistics are all at the research level.

Specific Delimitations

1. Formats collected: We collect annuals, monographs, periodicals, reference tools and scholarly series extensively and audio-visual material, CD-Roms and other electronic tools, textbooks and dissertations selectively.

2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications and twentieth-century materials extensively. All others are collected selectively.

3. Chronological Focus: We collect materials focusing on current and twentieth-century topics extensively. All others are collected selectively.

4. Languages Collected: We collect English extensively and French, Russian and German selectively.

5. Place of Publication: We collect North American, Western European and Russian materials extensively and materials published in Japan, Singapore, and China selectively.