MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY STATEMENT
Department: Collections Management Subject: Classical Studies
Written by: Mary Ann S. Tyrrell
Date drafted: 2/20/89--3/17/89; approved 7/16/89
Date revised: 1/21/98; 5/3/2005
The purpose of the collection is to support the undergraduate Latin major, Latin and Greek language and literature as a minor at the graduate level, and the interdisciplinary Classical Studies undergraduate program. Certain portions of the collection support instruction and research in other fields or departments such as philosophy, comparative literature, religious studies, history, art and art history, archaeology and historical linguistics. Classical literature, especially in translation, supports several ATL and English classes or programs as well as the general cultural interests of the University community.
Major growth occurred after World War II, but especially in the sixties when the Library had the funds to purchase sets (of journals, mainly, but also monographic sets) and other expensive items from dealers. Although there were four full-time Classicists in the Department of Romance and Classical Languages by the late sixties, the development of the collection was due to the energy and devotion of bibliographers who were true “bookmen.” It was their conception of what a classics collection should be that has given MSU such a fine and usable compilation.
The expanded university with its emphasis on the liberal arts and various undergraduate programs abroad contributed to the acquisition of scholarly journals and other materials from Europe. Suggestions also came from the departments of English, Philosophy, History, Humanities, Art and others.
The collection emphasizes basic texts and criticism in the languages and literatures, with a current emphasis on Greek comedy and drama and the scholia on the primary authors. Works, mainly monographic, pertaining to social, economic, and political concerns are also collected, particularly if they have application to the rest of the ancient world. The collection is stronger than curricular interests would indicate in Greek and Latin epigraphy and paleography, medieval Latin literature, and early Christian literature, including Church Fathers and church history, due to the research interests of faculty in the departments of Religion and English. There is a good basic collection on papyrology for a similar reason, although this collection is not currently supported. Past and current bibliographers have made every effort to acquire out-of-print editions of the primary authors and secondary works of major value; however, there has been little interest in recent years in acquiring rare or fine editions.
The Library has acquired a solid, well-balanced collection in Classics over the years, sufficient to provide adequate instructional support through the M.A. level. It is not likely that a basic undergraduate level collection in Classical Studies will ever be deemed unneeded. While instructional needs have not increased in many years, there has been some renewed interest in archaeology that may eventually create a higher level of need and cause the collection to change.
The Library has made an assessment of the collection, detailing the financial commitment necessary to support a program in classical archaeology covering the frontiers of the Roman Empire—Europe and N. Africa, and excluding Asia Minor. The Library has only a basic journal collection in archaeology; it lacks several important titles and many backruns. It is the latter, which would account for the highest expenditure. To transform the Library’s holdings into a cohesive collection would require a substantial ongoing commitment beyond the present level of support, probably several thousand dollars per year, and guaranteed continuing support for periodicals and serials.
Since the assessment was written the University undertook the reappraisals of CRUE and R3. The faculty of the Departments of Romance and Classical Languages were moved to the renovated Old Horticulture building with the result that the main Arts and Humanities faculty - English, History, Art History, Philosophy, along with Romance and Classical Languages are all north of the Red Cedar River. Classical Studies as an interdisciplinary entity was thus felt to be more cohesive.
1. On campus branch or format collections: The Fine Arts Library (an internal branch within the Main Library) houses many of the excavation series as well as the book collection relating to ancient art. The Kresge Art Museum and its collections of artifacts as well as slides is also an important campus resource.
2. Regional or network resources:
2.1 The University of Michigan is an important resource for literary works not owned by MSU, especially older or rare editions. UM, moreover, with an established graduate program in Classics through the Ph.D. level collects many areas MSU does not, for instance, the ancient Near East, Egyptology, papyrology, numismatics, etc. In addition, the Kelsey Museum in Ann Arbor sponsors and publishes excavation reports on the classical world.
2.2 Wayne State University’s programs support the MA in the teaching of classics, and are heavily involved in etymological studies as well as some papyrology. The Detroit Institute of Art is another resource for classical art.
|
History (Ancient and Medieval) |
Art (Art History and Architecture) |
|
Anthropology/Folklore |
Religious Studies |
|
Literature, American/English (translations and comparative literature, criticism) |
Africa (Egypt and North Africa) Europe, Southern (Romance Languages) |
|
Near East (Archaeology); Israel, Judaism |
Linguistics; etymology; etc. |
|
Human Medicine (i.e. medical texts; medical humanities) |
Philosophy (i.e. texts; western tradition; ethics, etc.) |
Generally, collection parameters for Classical Studies at Michigan State University extend from the beginnings of civilization in the ancient (mostly western) world up to approximately 500 CE (Common Era), excluding the early Latin Medieval period and the Latin Fathers of the Christian Church. That is, emphasis is on the following areas:
Archaeology: Roman and Hellenistic
History: Italy until 711 CE
France until 5th century CE
Spain until 5th century CE
East through Justinian (565 CE)
Literature: West: through 3d century Roman authors
East: through 6th century Greek authors
Materials are acquired in all languages. Creative literature is always acquired in the original languages, and English translations of important authors are obtained as well. Secondary studies may be in English, German and French, and to a lesser extent, Italian. Spanish is little collected. Slavic materials are largely in translation, as are sources in other non-Roman alphabets including Egyptian hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and Semitic languages.
Primary interest is restricted to the widest borders of the Greco-Roman world, with emphasis on the Mediterranean basin.
Included are monographs and serials, works of reference (including indices verborum), maps; microforms when conventional forms are unavailable, important sets and series, and festschrifts. Proceedings of associations and conferences are selectively acquired. All new editions of texts in series are collected, although “school” text editions are acquired selectively. The following are not collected: theses and dissertations, “informal” publications such as pre-prints or offprints, typescripts, and materials suitable for Special Collections that is, rare and/or valuable manuscripts or editions. Non-print materials such as audiovisual materials, for instance videotapes and sound recordings are collected as funds allow. An effort is being made to keep the collections up-to-date with the judicious addition of electronic materials. Collection of such items is also dependent on faculty curricular and research needs.
None. The entire world of classical discourse is acceptable.
|
Call number range |
Subject |
Level |
|
PA 1-2915 |
Greek and Latin Philology |
3A* |
|
PA 42 |
Greek and Latin Paleography |
see Z 105-115 |
|
PA 201-1179 |
Greek Language |
3A |
|
PA 459-591 |
Greek Language—Hellenic Dialects |
2 |
|
PA 601-691 |
Greek Language—Hellenistic Greek |
2 |
|
PA 1001-1179 |
Greek Language—Medieval and Modern |
2 |
|
PA 3050-4500 |
Greek Literature—Ancient |
3B |
|
PA 3131-3203 |
Greek Drama, Theater and Stage |
3B |
|
PA 3300-3367 |
Greek Literature—Papyri and Papyrology |
2 |
|
PA 5000-5350 |
Byzantine Literature |
3A |
|
PA 5600-(5868) |
Modern Greek Literature |
2 |
|
PA 2001-2995 |
Latin Language |
3A |
|
PA 2391-2550 |
Ancient Languages and Dialects of Italy |
2 |
|
PA 2801-2915 |
Latin Language—Medieval and Modern |
3A |
|
PA 6000-6971 |
Latin Literature—Roman |
3B |
|
PA 6067-6075 |
Roman Drama, Theater and Stage |
3A |
|
PA 7000-7040 |
Early Christian Literature |
see BR 60-67 |
|
PA 8000-8595 |
Medieval and Neo-Latin Literature |
3A |
|
PJ 1003-1967 |
Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Literature |
2 |
|
PJ 3191-4509 |
Cuneiform |
1 |
|
PK |
Semitic Languages |
1 |
|
PK |
Indo-Iranian, Armenian, Caucasian, etc. |
1 |
* The definitions of collection level intensities are as follows:
1. Minimal level. Few selections, but basic authors, some core works or a spectrum of ideological views are represented.
2. Basic information level. A selective collection of materials that serves to introduce and define a subject and to indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere. It may include reference books, appropriate bibliographic databases, selected editions of important works, historical surveys, handbooks, bibliographies, and a few major periodicals.
3. Study or Instructional support level. A collection that is adequate to impart and maintain knowledge about a subject in a systematic way, but at a level of less than research intensity. The collection includes a wide range of basic works in appropriate formats, a significant number of “classic” retrospective materials, complete collections of the works of more important writers, selections from secondary writers; a selection of representative journals, access to appropriate data files, and the reference tools and fundamental bibliographical apparatus pertaining to the subject.
3A. As above. This division of level 3 supports UNDERGRADUATE courses, as well as most independent study needs of the clientele of public and special libraries. It is not adequate to support master’s degree programs.
3B. Advanced sub-division of level 3 provides resources adequate to master’s degree programs as well as the more advanced independent needs of the patrons of public and special libraries.
4. Research level. A collection that includes the major materials required for dissertations and independent research, including materials containing research reporting, new findings, experimental results, etc. It includes all important reference works and a wide selection of specialized monographs, a very extensive collection of journals and the major indexing and abstracting services in the field. Pertinent foreign language materials are included. Older material is retained for historical research and actively preserved. This level collection supports doctoral and other original research.
5. Comprehensive level. A collection in which a library endeavors, so far as it is reasonably possible, to include all significant works of recorded knowledge in all applicable languages, for a necessarily defined and limited field. The aim is exhaustiveness.
|
Call number range |
Subject |
Level |
|
BL 1-1000 |
History of & Comparative Religion, etc |
3A |
|
BL 700-820 |
Classical Religion and Mythology |
3A |
|
BR 60-67 |
Early Christian Literature (Greek and Latin) |
3A |
|
CC 1-175 |
Archaeology |
3A |
|
CJ |
Numismatics |
2 |
|
CN |
Epigraphy, Inscriptions |
3A |
|
D 51-90 |
Ancient History |
3A |
|
D 1-98 |
Greco-Roman World |
3B |
|
DF 1-289 |
Ancient Greece |
3B |
|
DG 11-365 |
Ancient Italy |
3B |
|
HB, HC, HD |
Demography, Economic History |
3A |
|
HN-HV |
Social History |
3A |
|
JC 51-95 |
Ancient State |
3A |
|
JN |
Constitutional History |
3A |
|
Z 105-115 |
Greek and Latin Paleography |
3A |
Publications in Classical Studies are less rapidly superseded than in most other areas of the humanities. Nevertheless, superseded editions, multiple copies of texts from the old undergraduate collection, and translations of no independent literary value may be deselected. The deterioration of journals is the main concern of preservation. If rebinding is not an option, replacements are actively sought. Antiquarian and out-of-print catalogs are occasionally perused for retrospective collection development in light of current curricular focuses.