Forestry, wood science and forest products
Statement of programs and library needs
The Department of Forestry and the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, located in the College of Natural Resources, offer programs leading to the B.S., M.S., M.F. (Master of Forestry, a professional, non-research degree), and Ph.D. degrees.
Areas of specialization in the Department of Forestry involve all aspects of forestry, including silviculture; management and conservation of forest resources; production; genetics; mensuration; disease and pest control; acid rain effects; harvesting methods; forest biometrics; and soils. Remote sensing and geographic information systems are also important. The department is actively involved in international research and extension service.
Research in the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products is focused on assisting the forest products industry with solving its problems and developing new cost-effective methods for the conversion of wood to consumer products. In addition, researchers in the department also focus on gaining a better understanding of wood as a material and the behavior of wood in service and processing. The department has several research/testing facilities, including the Pallet and Container Research Laboratory, the Biobased Materials/Recycling Center, and the Center for Forest Products Marketing. The department is actively involved in extension service.
Undergraduate majors in the Department of Forestry may select one of the following options: environmental resource management; forest resource management; forestry operations; or outdoor recreation. The undergraduate degree programs in Wood Science and Forest Products are options within the baccalaureate degree program administered by the College of Forestry and Wildlife Resources. Students graduating with forest products specializations receive the degree of B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife and may choose an option in forest products marketing and management or an option in wood products.
Researchers in forestry have ties with many other disciplines, such as biology, agriculture (particularly plant pathology), statistics, chemistry, computer science, economics, geography, sociology, and management. Researchers in wood science and forest products come from a wide array of backgrounds, including chemistry, materials, civil and chemical engineering, physics, economics, and marketing.
I. Collection areas
A. Area: Forestry and Forest Products
B. Classes and Levels
GB 651-2298 Water, Hydrology Research HD 9754 Economics of Wood Industries Study QD 320 Chemistry of Wood, Cellulose, etc. Research QH 426-470 Genetics Research QH 540-549 Ecology Research QK Botany Research SB 599-999 Pests and Diseases Research TA 419-424 Wood Materials Research TA 593 Remote Sensing of Environment Research TH 1101-1111 Wood Building Construction Research TP 1-295 Chemistry of Wood, Cellulose,etc. Research TP 324 Wood as Fuel Research TS 800-937 Wood Technology Research TS 1171-1220 Paper Manufacture Research
C. Chronology
Emphasis is on current imprints, although substantial studies, systematic descriptions of relevant regions, and classic works may be purchased as funds and availability allow.
D. Geographic Guidelines
Materials relevant to the eastern region of the United States are of greatest importance. Materials dealing with other regions worldwide are collected if needed for support of research projects or when the materials are of broad general interest.
E. Languages
English is the primary language of the collection. Materials in French, German, and other European languages, as well as in Japanese, are purchased selectively usually through faculty request.
F. Treatment
Technical reports, conference proceedings, theses and dissertations from other institutions (usually through requests), and documents from all levels of government are collected. Textbooks are few in number and are limited to essential basic materials. Biographical materials and historical developments in forestry in the United States, including political, economic, and environmental concerns, are of interest. Trade publications are important as well as publications from international organizations, such as IUFRO and the International Union of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures. Popular works of substantial content from reputable publishers are purchased selectively.
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. The Libraries support access to major bibliographic databases in forestry and wood science and forest products.
H. Multiple copies
Multiple copies (usually one extra copy) are occasionally purchased for heavily used titles, as funds permit.
II. Acquisition Strategy
Materials are selected by the forestry and wood science and forest products bibliographer, with priority given to faculty and student requests. The Libraries maintain an approval plan for books from many university press and significant trade publishers and standing orders for many important serials. U.S. government documents for all the forest experiment regions are received; many FAO publications are received on standing order. Many publications are available only by direct order from small publishers, societies, research establishments, and government offices. Gifts are not an important means of acquisition.
III. Collection Notes
Materials are excluded because of highly specific subject matter applicable to some region or species not of interest to researchers at Virginia Tech. Integrate ??? in the use of ecology, botany, zoology, entomology, plant physiology, genetics, range management, soils science, horticulture, climatology, and chemistry materials by forestry students.
Revised 10/1995
