Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas offers language courses in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and classical Greek and Latin, which meet the undergraduate language requirements. Also offered are the BA and MA (Plan A, thesis, and Plan B, non-thesis) programs based on the view that European culture is a unity, which expresses itself in the several European languages and literatures, with roots in the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Candidates may focus on the Classics, French, German, Russian, or Spanish. Core requirements include history and civilization; language structure and phonetics; composition; conversation; and literary forms, styles, genres and periods.

The Classics concentration focuses on classical mythology, classic Greek history and culture, Greek philosophy, and Roman literature.

The French concentration offers course work in language, medieval through 20th century literature (novel, poetry, and theatre), and Francophone language and literature outside France, chiefly Canada and Africa. Faculty research interests include literary genres over time, critical theory, teaching methodologies, linguistics and phonetics, cross-cultural communication, gender studies, and French/Japanese literary influences.

The German concentration focuses on language, literature, foreign language pedagogy, intellectual history and culture of Germanic speaking countries, and literary criticism. In addition, faculty interests include German opera, pre-20th century women writers, and Germans in the Pacific.

The Spanish concentration, in addition to instruction in Spanish language and literature, emphasizes study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country.

For the Russian concentration, see the Russian area studies statement.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to the language selectors, discipline selectors (e.g., history, world literature, linguistics, religion, and philosophy) select European language materials in their subject areas.

Belles-lettres of French-speaking Oceania may be acquired by the Pacific Collection. The Pacific Collection collects German language materials about the Pacific basin. Belles-lettres of French-speaking Indochina may be acquired by the Asia Collection.

Audiovisual titles (on videotape, film, or videodisc, or sound recordings) are normally acquired through the Wong AV Center.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

French, German, Spanish, Russian, Latin and Greek are the major languages. A few English language materials are selected in the areas of literary criticism, comparative literature, and language pedagogy. Secondary literature is selectively acquired in other languages.

Chronological:

No limitations.

Geographic:

Emphasis is on the languages and literatures of the Mediterranean basin and metropolitan France, Germany, Spain, and Russia. Austria, Switzerland, French Canada, French-speaking Africa, Latin America, and the Portuguese in the Pacific are also of interest. Spain and Latin American countries receive equal emphasis.

Date of Publication:

No limitations, but current imprints are emphasized. Older works in reprint or in new, critical editions are also sought.

Types/Formats of Materials Collected:

Monographs in hard copy of primary literature (belles-lettres) and literary criticism make up the bulk of the collection. Collected works, serial publications, bibliographies, dictionaries and concordances, directories, handbooks and encyclopedias are all collected. Materials in electronic formats such as online resources and CD-ROMs are acquired. Microforms are collected if other formats are not available. Dissertations, conference proceedings, university departmental material, textbooks, grammars, study aids, and abridged or popularized versions are rarely collected. Translations from French, German, Spanish or Russian into other than English are rarely collected.

Treatment:

All aspects and genres are acquired, except folk literature and folklore are normally excluded. Secondary works dealing with historical, critical, biographical, bibliographical, socio-economic, political and other aspects of European language and literature are acquired. Foreign language teaching methodology is acquired.

IV. SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

The library subscribes to the Loeb Classical Library.

English language translations of European language literature is not widely sought by the department, but is acquired for the use of scholars in world and comparative literature.

Language and literature materials in other Romance and Germanic languages, not regularly taught, are collected selectively.

The Blackwell approval plans provide most of the current imprint titles in English from major trade and university presses in the United States and to a lesser extent United Kingdom.

Date compiled: 7/01 Compiler: Ross Christensen