Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Geography at the University of Hawaii at Manoa offers programs leading to the BA, MA (Plan A, thesis only), and PhD degrees in geography. Joint courses or programs are offered with the Departments of Anthropology, Economics, and Urban and Regional Planning, the Schools of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies, Travel Industry & Management, the Population Studies Program, the Biology Program, and the School of Public Health. Individual staff members are also affiliated with the East-West Center, and the Social Science Research Institute. There is close contact with the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics, and the Lyon Arboretum.

Study, teaching and research cover all areas of the discipline. However, faculty interests and supporting strengths of the university provide particular advantages for the study of the following topics: natural systems; nature & society; population, urbanization and regional development; cartography; remote sensing and geographic information systems; Pacific and Asia regional issues.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Geography is a strongly interdisciplinary subject. Related disciplines include anthropology, history, political science, sociology, travel industry management, urban and regional planning, geology, meteorology, agriculture, and public health. Materials on physical geography are available in the Science and Technology unit. Related library collections are the Asia, Hawaiian, and Pacific collections, Map Collection and Government Documents Collection.

The Map collection is a sub-unit of Government Documents and currently receives most items on deposit. There is a small budget for purchasing non-depository items. Geography and Government Documents may jointly select maps or reference materials for the Map collection. (See also Map statement.)

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIAL COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

The primary language of the collection is English. Materials in Asian and Pacific languages are collected in the respective area collections. Major works in European languages are selected if not available in translation.

Chronological:

No limitations, although the primary emphasis of research is on contemporary issues.

Geographic:

No limitations. Major emphasis is on Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific materials, which are collected in the respective area collections. Tropical areas are of primary interest, with the major emphasis reflecting University of Hawaii at Manoa's area collections, but also including the physical geography of tropical areas in Latin America and Africa.

Date of Publication:

Emphasis is on current imprints. Retrospective material may be added to supplement specific collections, especially in the areas of stated faculty interests and program strengths.

Textbooks:

Textbooks are not collected, with the exception of major "classic" texts, as identified in standard core bibliographies.

Types/Formats of Materials Collected:

The Library collects print, non-print, CD-ROM, and online resources that support Geography research, especially including maps and atlases. Serial publications are of major importance. Non-traditional formats, including aerial photography and remote sensing are acquired and housed in the Map Collection. Dissertations are purchased selectively to support faculty research. Conference proceedings and other output of professional associations are valuable to researchers and are collected. Computer software products supporting geographic functions are acquired by the Geography department. Except for recognized "classics", textbooks are not generally acquired. Government documents, available in the Government Documents Collection, are widely used, especially those from USGS, NASA, USDA, Commerce (especially census data), US Congressional materials and UNESCO.

Treatment:

All treatments are included, with the exception of popular works and textbooks. Material at the lower undergraduate level is purchased selectively.

Major Microform Holdings:

There is a collection of LANDSAT microfiche in the Map Collection. The Human Relations Area Files contain documents of interest to researchers in human geography. The Pacific Collection manuscript collection is considered valuable. Other area collection microforms are used by researchers for individual areas.

Date compiled: 6/01 Compiler: Susan Johnson