Environmental design and planning

Statement of programs and library needs

Library acquisitions in environmental design and planning (EDP) reflect the present and future needs of Environmental Design and Planning, a doctoral program in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Graduate students in EDP come from a variety of undergraduate programs and, often, from professions such as teaching, planning, architecture, and building science. Areas for research include: disadvantaged households, urban problems, economic development, energy policy/planning, indoor environments, health policy, planning, housing policy, land resource planning, land use, public management, Third World development, etc.

The University Committee on Environmental Studies was established in 1992, and continues as a steering body for environmental studies at Virginia Tech. EDP faculty take an active part in university-wide planning and coordination of environmental studies.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Environmental Design and Planning

 

B. Classes and Levels

HD 7285-7390    Housing                       Research
HT              Urban and Regional Planning
                 Human Ecology                Research
NA              Architecture -- Planning      Research
TH,TD           Environmental Engineering     Research

C. Chronology

Historical works in all periods are acquired. The twentieth century is emphasized.

D. Geographic Guidelines

This upper level research program depends on American publishers for most of its materials; however, international publishing sources cannot be overlooked. Latin America and Third World development issues demand original source materials.

E. Languages

English is the primary language, but foreign language materials, Latin American imprints for example, are collected according to need and demand. The graduate research program is necessarily international in character.

F. Treatment

The collection includes academic, research oriented materials across a broad subject area. Monographs, periodicals indexed in major indexing services, technical and regional planning and policy reports, area studies, and case studies are collected. Reference materials include research oriented bibliographies and legal and business information sources.

G. Formats

Primarily print for monographs and most journals, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet. Videos and disks are purchased selectively, through faculty request.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies are purchased for heavily used titles. Duplication is usually limited to two copies of a title.

II. Acquisition Strategy

Materials are selected for purchase by the art and architecture librarian. Faculty and student requests are encouraged. The broad nature of the program means that other subject librarians will be monitoring and ordering materials relevant to this program. The art and architecture librarian purchases architecture oriented materials and communicates with other bibliographers for materials outside the subject area. As with other interdisciplinary programs, the goal is to avoid serious oversight of important material. Since 1982, most university press books are received automatically. Government documents are received on deposit plans.

III. Collection Notes

Graduate students and faculty in Environmental Design and Planning use publications in a wide range of subjects, especially those related to urban and regional planning, public administration and law. Research in indoor air quality is connected to the College of Architecture and Urban Studies Indoor Environment Program, a separately administrated center.

Textbooks, popular treatments, and dissertations from other universities are generally not collected.

Revised 11/2000