Library Policy Statements

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, initially called household or home economics and most recently called the Department of Human Resources, has been an integral part of the University of Hawaii since 1907. The curriculum focuses on individual, child and family development; consumer and home economics education; family economics and resource management; apparel design; consumer textiles; historic costumes; and apparel production with fashion marketing and fashion merchandising theory. The department offers two programs leading to the BS degree: Family Resources (FAMR), which focuses on individual and family development in the physical, social, multicultural and economic environments; and Apparel Product Design and Merchandising (APDM), which focuses on fashion design, fashion merchandising, and fashion promotion. Both programs draw on a variety of disciplines and the multicultural resources of Hawaii.

Areas of research interest to family resources faculty includes childhood, parenting, preschool, aging, consumer education, women in the workforce, and business in the home. Areas of research and teaching interest to textiles and clothing faculty includes the social psychology of dress, Asian costume, clothing preferences, history of costume, and legislation relating to marketing and merchandising of apparel.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to its own literature, the department draws on the materials of such disciplines as American studies, Asian studies, business, marketing and advertising, art, anthropology, psychology, religion, sociology, theater and dance, nursing, social work and women's studies.

Wong AV Center Audiovisual material is selected by the Wong AV Center in close consultation with the Family and Consumer Sciences selector.

APDM faculty and students have found useful the library and museum collections available at the following depositories: Bishop Museum, State Department of Business and Economic Development, U.S. Customs, Hawaii State Archives, Hawaiian Historical Society, Hawaiian Mission Children's Society, and Lyman House Memorial Museum.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language:

Primarily English. Some Asian language materials are selected for the textiles and clothing program.

Chronological: No limitations, although current imprints are emphasized.

Geographic:

No limitations, although the family resources program tends to focus on the United States, Hawaii, the Pacific basin, and Asia.

Date of publication:

No limitations, although the emphasis is on contemporary materials, especially for family resources.

Types/Formats of Materials Collected:

Books and serials in hard copy make up the largest part of the collection. Government documents and audiovisual materials are also collected. Dissertations are rarely acquired.

Electronic Formats:

Materials in electronic format are selectively acquired.

Treatment:

For the APDM program, "how-to" books are rarely collected and arts and crafts material is limited to historical, ethnic, and theoretical aspects. For the family resources program, materials on legal, political, economic, business, social and management aspects, professional and applied training approaches, and popular culture, customs and folklore are actively collected.

Major Microform Holdings:

The Human Relations Area Files are of use to both FAMR and APDM programs for its cross-cultural approach.

Date compiled: 6/01 Compiler: Jodie Mattos