Purpose and Program Description

The Libraries seek to support research in physiological neuroscience (sensation, perception, psychophysics); physiological psychology (eating, smoking, attention, arousal, psychopharmacology, hormone regulation); animal behavior and learning; social personality (emotion, motivation, communication); cognition (memory, reading, language, decision-making). It supports the needs of undergraduate students, graduate students, post-docs, Ph.D. students, faculty, and researchers.

During the first half of the 1990’s, the following changes were observed: Graduate population has remained fairly constant, at 25-30 (5+ per year for 5 years). Undergraduate population has grown dramatically, since Psychology now fills the under-graduate science requirement. No numbers were available, but it is estimated that the number has doubled within the last 5 years.

New courses recently introduced include neuroscience due in part to new technology. Physiological/behavioral psychology is gaining in importance due to new interest in public health policies.

Areas of established specialization are sensation and perception; social/behavioral psychology; cognition, learning, memory, decision making; physiological psychology; animal behavior and learning; history of psychology; psychophysics.

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 Psychology are all at the research level.

Specific Delimitations

1. Formats collected: We collect dissertations, monographs, periodicals, reference tools and series extensively. Annuals, CD-Roms, newspapers, other electronic tools and textbooks are collected selectively. Maps are excluded. Psychology also collects videos--all appropriate titles (English only).

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

3. Languages Collected: We collect English language materials extensively. All others are collected very selectively.

4. Place of Publication: We collect North American, British, and Western European materials extensively and all others very selectively.