Mathematics/Statistics
Collection Development
Policy
(revised 10/1/05 by Holly
Flynn)
The mathematics/statistics collection serves the research and instructional needs of faculty and students in mathematics and statistics/probability as well as other disciplines. Both the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics/Probability offer Masters and Ph.D. programs in addition to undergraduate degrees. Service courses are provided to large numbers of students in other disciplines. To a limited extent, the collection also serves the general public.
The mathematics/mathematical statistics collection at MSU was originally housed in the Main Library. When the Physics-Astronomy-Mathematics Building opened in 1949, a branch library was created in that building to house those subject materials. In 1967, the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Probability moved to Wells Hall on the south side of the Red Cedar River. The mathematics materials were moved to room A304, near the departmental offices.
The Department of Mathematics was awarded a National Science Foundation Centers of Excellence grant in 1968 and a significant portion of that grant was used for new physical facilities for the library and expansion of the collection. The library was named in honor of Vernon G. Grove, professor of mathematics at MSU from 1920-1958, for “his major role in establishing a tradition of distinguished mathematical research and scholarship” at MSU. The Vernon G. Grove Research Library, popularly referred to as the Mathematics Library, opened in 1970 on the first floor of the 3-story D-wing of Wells Hall. The 7,000 square foot library has an atrium reaching all three stories, and has seating for 70. The staff consists of approximately 13 students employees, one full-time library assistant, and one full-time librarian.
The monograph collection of about 48,000 is complemented by some 830 journal titles of which approximately 300 are current. The Library’s proxy server allows MSU-affiliated individuals access to MathSciNet and numerous electronic journals. The collection of approximately 100 math videos is located in the Faculty Alcove along with the new books and serials.
The current collection emphasizes pure mathematics and mathematical statistics. Applied mathematics and statistics are collected on a selective basis to meet the instructional and research needs of the faculty and graduate students. There is an active exchange program whereby 60 mathematics/statistics journals are received in exchange for Real Analysis Exchange (RAE), published through the Michigan State University Press. The history of mathematics is not collected extensively. Collected works and festschrifts are not usually selected except in the case of contemporary giants. Undergraduate textbooks are usually not purchased.
The books in the faculty display case are current publications written or edited by faculty members in the Departments of Mathematics or Statistics and Probability, or in the Division of Science and Mathematics Education; they circulate for a two-week period.
The library is proactively collecting in more diverse areas to meet the research and instructional needs of new faculty.
The Mathematics Library collection primarily supports research and graduate instructional needs in mathematics/statistics, but limited advanced undergraduate mathematics and statistics materials are provided. A small collection in the Main Library provides the elementary materials in mathematics/statistics.
In addition to elementary and secondary mathematics education titles selected by the education librarian for Main, the Mathematics Library purchases selected college and research level mathematics and statistics education titles.
The Engineering and Biomedical and Physical Sciences branch libraries collect selectively in a few pure mathematics areas such as differential equations, complex variable theory, and advanced calculus. Applied mathematics materials are chosen selectively by Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, and Main according to the interests of the users of these libraries. The Biomedical and Physical Sciences Library has the primary collection in mathematical physics but the Mathematics Library also purchases in this area. Control theory is purchased primarily in Engineering, but some purchases are made in Mathematics and Main.
The Mathematics Library acquires materials in mathematical logic, but Main also has materials in this area. Main has the primary collection in mathematical biology and mathematical economics, but Mathematics does collect some mathematical biology. The computer science collections are in Main and Engineering; Engineering purchases material in data mining and some mathematical modelling. Software manuals or texts for Mathematics are purchased only to meet critical instructional or research needs. The Mathematics Library does purchase a few books in coding theory, automata theory, information theory, systems science, and operations research.
The primary collection in mathematical statistics is in the Mathematics Library but quantitative methods in the social sciences and other scientific fields are usually collected by Main or the appropriate branch library. The Mathematics Library does selectively acquire applied statistical materials as indicated by the research interests of the faculty and graduate students in statistics.
Recent years have seen a shift from the Mathematics Library to the Business Library for actuarial materials as faculty interests have shifted and budgets have tightened. Business and Main are the primary collectors of the mathematics of finance and commerce.
There has been an increasing reliance on getting more materials through interlibrary loan. The CIC (Big Eleven) mathematics librarians discuss cooperative collection development at the Special Libraries Association annual conference each year. Collection development is done with cognizance of the comprehensive collections maintained at the University of Michigan, and resources available at Wayne State University.
Applied mathematics/statistics and probability materials at other branch libraries fall under the collection development policy of that library.
Mathematical publications do not age to the same extent as publications in other sciences. It is thus desirable to keep older publications on-site as much as possible. However, the emphasis is on the collection of current materials. A number of publishers have active reprint programs for materials in mathematics, if retrospective materials are needed. The Mathematics Library’s materials budget provides the fund for acquisition of mathematics-related material for both the Main Library and the Mathematics Library. The Mathematics Librarian, in cooperation with the Mathematics Library Committee, is the selector of mathematics-related material for both the Main Library and the Mathematics Library.
The emphasis is on English language materials, but foreign language materials, particularly French and German, are also collected. Russian and Chinese publications are often available in translation and some of these are collected.
North American and European materials tend to be emphasized but there are no restrictions. Many Eastern European and Asian journals are received as part of the Real Analysis Exchange agreements.
Print material is complemented by electronic resources such as abstracting and indexing services (e.g., MathSciNet), electronic journals, select databases, and a significant collection of mathematics-related videos. Some mathematics/statistics software packages are collected in Main.
Emphasis is on current imprints, but retrospective collection development is done as necessary.
Withdrawal applies, but is not limited, to duplicate copies and works in very poor condition.
The American Library Association defines collection levels as follows:
3A. Undergraduate support level: a collection that is adequate to support undergraduate instruction.
3B. Upper level/graduate support level: a collection that is adequate to support undergraduate instruction and most upper level/graduate instruction or independent studies.
The Mathematics Library’s collection levels are currently primarily at 3A and 3B with a few approaching 4. MSU does not attempt to collect at intensity levels of 4 or above, since a level 5 collection is maintained by the University of Michigan, and is considered a regional resource center in the Research Libraries Group.
|
Conspectus Call # ranges |
Subject |
Level |
QA1-99 |
Mathematics, general |
3B |
|
QA1 |
Periodicals |
3B |
|
QA8 |
Philosophy of mathematics |
3B |
|
QA9-10 |
Mathematical logic |
3B |
|
QA11-20 |
Study and teaching |
3A |
|
QA21-35 |
History, biography |
3A |
|
QA41 |
Mathematical formulas |
3B |
|
QA47-59 |
Mathematical tables |
3B |
|
QA95 |
Mathematical recreations |
2 |
|
QA101-145 |
Arithmetic |
2 |
QA150-299 |
Algebra (general) |
3B |
|
QA164 |
Combinatorics |
3B |
|
QA166 |
Graph theory |
3B |
|
QA169 |
Homological algebra |
3B |
|
QA171 |
Group theory |
3B |
|
QA184-205 |
Linear and multilinear algebra; Matrices |
3B |
|
QA211-224 |
Algebraic theory |
3B |
|
QA241-247 |
Number theory |
3B |
|
QA247 |
Algebraic fields. Algebraic numbers |
3B |
|
QA248 |
Set theory |
3B |
|
QA251 |
Universal algebra |
3B |
|
QA251.3 |
Commutative rings and algebras |
3B |
|
QA251.5 |
Associative rings and algebras |
3B |
|
QA252 |
Non-associative algebra |
3B |
|
QA252.3 |
Lie algebra |
3B |
|
QA267-268 |
Machine theory |
3A |
|
QA267.3 |
Machine theory-formal languages |
2 |
|
QA268 |
Machine theory-coding theory |
3B |
|
QA268.5 |
Machine theory-switching theory |
3A |
|
QA269-271 |
Game theory |
3A |
QA273-299 |
Probability and Statistics |
3B |
|
QA273 |
Probability theory |
3B |
|
QA274 |
Stochastic processes |
3B |
|
QA275 |
Theory of errors |
3B |
|
QA276.6 |
Sampling theory |
3B |
|
QA278.2 |
Regression and correlation |
3B |
|
QA278.8 |
Non-parametric inference |
3B |
|
QA279 |
Parametric inference |
3B |
|
QA292 |
Sequential methods |
3B |
|
QA297-299 |
Numerical analysis |
3B |
QA303-433 |
Mathematical analysis (general) |
3B |
|
QA303-316 |
Calculus |
3A |
|
QA331-335 |
Analytical numbers |
3B |
|
QA372 |
Ordinary differential equations |
3B |
|
QA374-377 |
Partial differential equations |
3B |
|
QA387 |
Topological groups; Lie groups |
3B |
|
QA403 |
Harmonic analysis |
3B |
|
QA431 |
Functional and integral equations |
3B |
QA440-699 |
Geometry (general) |
3B |
|
QA564-608 |
Algebraic geometry |
3B |
|
QA611-614 |
Topology |
3B |
|
QA614 |
Global analysis |
3B |
|
QA615-640 |
Infinite geometry |
3B |
|
QA641-699 |
Differential geometry |
3B |
|
QA801-939 |
Analytical mechanics |
3A |
Decisions on replacement, withdrawal, out-of-print acquisition, preservation, etc., are made on a case-by-case basis. Replacements are ordered only for high circulation monographs.
The Mathematics Library welcomes donations. The Libraries Gifts Policy has more detailed information. Financial contributions are usually placed in an endowment fund to purchase print or non-print resources. Please contact the Libraries Development Office for further assistance.
Materials are accepted with the understanding that not all items received may be added to the collections. Because of space limitations; condition (materials requiring preservation are not acceptable); and the objectives of the collection development policies, the Libraries reserve the right to dispose of unneeded materials by sale, as give-aways, or as exchange or gift to other libraries. The Libraries may ask to pre-select needed items before donations are delivered. Donors may be asked to list journal titles and volumes so that the Libraries can check holdings before accepting journals. The following types of material are normally not accepted: textbooks, paperbacks, and books in poor condition. Donors are encouraged to discuss potential donations directly with the librarian prior to bringing in their contributions.