I. Purpose
The Reference and Research Services Division of the University of Washington Libraries serves the University of Washington community including undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff with reference material of high quality, currency, and relevance to their needs. The reference collection reflects the curriculum and supports teaching and research needs to the highest level for the social sciences and humanities. The collection also supports the instructional services of the division. In addition, the collection supports the general information needs of the greater university community.
Reference and Research Services houses the core reference collection within the University of Washington Libraries. It is essential that a strong collection be maintained even in times of financial constraints as it is through the use of various reference sources that research materials are identified and located.
II. Collection Description
Suzzallo Reference houses the social sciences and humanities reference collection as well as materials supporting curriculum taught in K-12 school systems. The print collection of approximately 43,000 (as of the year 2000) items is supplemented by several hundred electronic sources. Currently most of the major indexing and abstracting sources are available as networked, web-based products; however, many more specialized resources can be accessed through networked or stand-alone cd-roms.
III. Guidelines for Collection Development
- Chronological
The chronological periods covered vary according to discipline and are described more fully in individual subject collection development policies.
- Geography
Reference collects material dealing with all geographic regions.
- Formats
Reference collects in all appropriate formats according to availability, desirability, space and equipment requirements, and cost.
- Languages
Though English is the primary language of print publications and access protocols for online sources, language is not an essential criterion for selection.
- Publication Dates
The collection is continually coordinated with the university's curriculum and research programs and its materials must be timely and authoritative.
Over 90% of what Reference selects is currently in print. However, Reference does order out-of-print sources and older materials as needed, especially as replacements, and, occasionally, as curricular needs change.
IV. Subjects Collected and Levels of Collecting
| Biographical Sources | 4 |
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Reference collects national biographical sources for selected countries
as well as: subject specific biographical sets,
including discipline based, biographical finding tools, and
bibliographies of biographical sources. |
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| Book Review Sources | 4 |
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Reference increasingly relies on online databases for current book review sources. Reference also has a strong collection of retrospective review sources. |
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| Dissertation Sources | 4 |
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Reference collects major bibliographies of doctoral level
dissertations written in the U.S. and selected
countries. |
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| Funding Sources | 4 |
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Reference buys current sources on financial aid and directories of grants, granting agencies,
foundations, public and private funding agencies, and sources aimed at specific groups. Reference relies on the Grants and Funding Information Service for in-depth coverage.
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| Indexes and Abstracting Services | 4 |
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Reference selects multi-disciplinary, national, subject-specific
and narrowly focused indexes and abstracts that enable users
to find articles and other materials elsewhere. Many online indexes and abstracts now include the
full-text of the materials they index. Print subscriptions of indexes and abstracts may be
canceled when online versions are selected. |
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| Language Dictionaries | 4 |
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| Manuscript Catalogs | 4 |
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Suzzallo Reference adds manuscript catalogs very selectively,
e.g., major collections and regional repositories. |
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| Union Catalogs and National Bibliographies | 4 |
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The primary tools used for verifying sources are online databases, especially OCLC.
For older materials, national library catalogs and union catalogs remain essential. Bibliographical sources,
including national bibliographies, national library catalogs, catalogs of subject-oriented libraries, and
union lists of serials are collected and maintained.
| |
| Writing and Research Guides | 4 |
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Reference collects authoritative guides to writing in the social sciences
and humanities. General writing guides are also collected. |
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| Encyclopedias, Topical Dictionaries, Handbooks, Fact Books, Almanacs and Yearbooks | 4 |
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Reference collects materials of these types in all the subject areas for which it
takes responsibility. |
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| Concordances | 3c |
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Suzzallo Reference collects concordances to major works and authors. |
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| Subject or Topical Bibliographies | 3c |
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Reference selects bibliographies in areas of the social sciences and humanities.
However, Reference
generally does not select bibliographies on individuals. If the curriculum or interest warrants, narrowly
focused or specialized bibliographies on individuals may be selected, with the
understanding that they will be transferred to the Suzzallo
stacks when interest wanes and other topics emerge. |
|
| Directories | 3b |
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Directories of scholars, organizations, associations, institutions of
higher education, learned societies, social assistance agencies,
federal/state/local and governmental agencies, libraries,
archives and publishers are selected. Currency is vital. |
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| Quotation Dictionaries | 3b |
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Reference buys quotation dictionaries in several languages and
for specific subjects, as well as general works. |
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| Sacred Writings | 3b |
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Reference buys sacred writings of world religions. Reference attempts to buy different versions of the Bible. Reference relies on the East Asia Library for material on East Asian religions.
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| College Guides | 3a |
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Reference maintains a small collection of general college guides. Current discipline-specific and graduate guides are also collected. Currency is vital.
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| Statistical Compendia | 2b |
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Reference collects general statistical works. Currency is
especially critical with these titles. Reference relies on Government Publications for in-depth statistical works. |
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| Atlases and Gazetteers | 2a |
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Reference collects general and national atlases and gazetteers. Contemporary, historical, and topical atlases are selected. Reference relies on the Maps Collection for in-depth coverage. |
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V. Subjects Excluded
Suzzallo Reference collects very selectively in those areas of the social sciences and humanities which are covered by another library unit or are not central to the teaching and research activities of the University. Generally, the following are not collected: travel guides, city directories, telephone books, consumer guides, genealogical materials, career information, and admission tests handbooks.
VI. Acquisition of Reference Materials
Primary selection responsibility for reference materials rests with the reference selector in consultation with other selectors. Much of the material is purchased outside the reference budget by subject selectors. Selectors in the social sciences and humanities are encouraged to purchase appropriate reference materials to be housed within the division. Shared purchases of expensive items are pursued as appropriate.
VII. Collection Maintenance
Systematic weeding or collection maintenance is performed as needed. Items that are in need of repair are sent to the mendery as they are identified by librarians or staff members.
VIII. Cooperative Arrangements and Related Collections
The subject-specific branches and units in the UW Libraries system maintain reference collections in their subject areas. For example, the Government Publications and Microforms/Newspapers divisions house many reference tools that are not duplicated in the Suzzallo Reference collection.
Reference relies on other area libraries, especially Seattle Public and King County Library systems, for reference resources in areas that are peripheral to Suzzallo's collections. Reference directs patrons to the appropriate local public or academic library. Subscriptions to electronic union catalogs and direct links to library WWW pages simplify such referrals.