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

I    PURPOSE OR SCOPE OF COLLECTION

       A.  Curricular/Research/Programmatic Needs

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.

    B. History of the Collection/Existing Strengths and Emphases

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.II FACTORS INFLUENCING COLLECTION POLICY

    A.     Anticipated Future Trends

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.

    B. Relationships with Other Resources

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 artefacts 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.

C. Relationships to Disciplines Treated in Other Policy Statements
 

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.)

 

III ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT FIELD

    A.     Chronology of the Subject: Emphases/Restrictions

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
     B.     Languages of Resources Collected: Exclusions / Emphases

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.    C.     Geography of the Subject: Emphases/Restrictions

Primary interest is restricted to the widest borders of the Greco-Roman world, with emphasis on the Mediterranean basin.    D.     Format of the Resources Collected: Restrictions, if any

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 off-prints, 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 video tapes 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.    E.     Date of Publication of Resources Collected: Emphases, if any

None. The entire world of classical discourse is acceptable.

IV     LEVELS OF COLLECTING INTENSITY

    Conspectus Section: Language and Literature

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.

Conspectus: Other subjects (as each relates to the ancient world in general).

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

 
 
 

V COLLECTION MANAGEMENT ISSUES

Specific Policies, if any, on replacement, deselection, out-of-print acquisitions, preservation, etc.

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 regularly perused for retrospective collection development in light of current curricular focuses.
 
 

collpol.cst

rev 1/98 MAT