History
Statement of programs and library needs
The History Department offers courses leading toward a B.A., as well as an M.A. degree. American history is represented in the largest percentage of courses taught. In decreasing percentages, courses in other areas are: European, Non- Western, British, World or General, Science and Technology, Ancient, Intellectual and Russian histories.
History library materials are also collected to support many university programs. Within the Humanities Program, the introductory courses rely heavily on history materials. Researchers from all departments of the university use history materials for the historical perspective of their study, research, and writings in many other subject areas. A large percentage of the history collection is used by patrons outside the discipline.
History of Science materials are used for the Humanities Program concentration and for the faculty research and graduate programs of the Center for Science and Technology Studies, as well as for History Department courses.
Local history--Blacksburg,Montgomery County, Southwest Virginia and Appalachian Virginia--is collected for university patrons and to satisfy an increasing demand from Virginia citizens and patrons from out of state, whose requests are made in person, by correspondence, or through interlibrary loan. These patrons exemplify the extension responsibilities of library service in a comprehensive area such as history.
I. Collection areas
A. Area: History
B. Classes and Levels
C Auxiliary Sciences of History Study
CB History of Civilization and Culture Study
CC Archaeology (General) Basic
CD Diplomatics. Archives. Seals. Study
CE Chronology Basic
CJ Numismatics Basic
CN Epigraphy Minimal
CR Heraldry Basic
CS Genealogy Study
CT Biography Basic
D 1900 History (General) Study
DA History: Great Britain Study
DB History: Austria, Austro-
Hungarian Empire, Hungary Study
DC France Study
DD History: Germany Study
DE History: Mediterranean
Greco-Roman World Study
DF History: Greece Study
DG History: Italy Study
DH History: Netherlands (Low countries,
General & Belgium) Study
DJ History: Eastern Europe Study
DK History: Russia, U.S.S.R. Study
DL History: Northern Europe, Scandinavia Study
DP 1-500 History: Spain Study
DP 501-900 History: Portugal Study
DQ History: Switzerland Study
DR History: Eastern Europe
Balkan Peninsula Study
DS 1-40 History: Asia Study
DS 41-329 History: Southwestern Asia
Ancient Orient, Near East Basic
DS 330-500 History: Eastern Asia,
Southeastern Asia, Far East Basic
DT History: Africa Study
DU History: Oceania (South Seas) Basic
DX History: Gypsies Basic
E 1-139 History of Americas: General.
Indians, North America Study
E 140-200 United States, Colonial
Special Topics Study
E 201-299 United States, Revolutionary Period Study
E 301-440 United States, 1790-1855 Study
E 441-655 United States, Slavery and Civil War Research
E 656-867 United States Since the Civil War Study
F 1-205 State & Local History:New England
Atlantic Coast Study
F 206-475 State & Local History
South & Gulf States Study
F 476-705 State & Local History: Midwest
Mississippi Valley Study
F 721-854 State & Local History: The West Study
F 856-975 State & Local History: Pacific Coast
Alaska Study
F 1000-1170 History: British America, Canada Study
F 1201-1392 History: Mexico Study
F 1401-1419 History: Latin America, Spanish America Study
F 1421-1577 History: Central America Study
F 1601-2151 History: West Indies Study
F 2201-3799 History: South America Study
Z 5051-5055 Subject and Personal Bibliography
Academies, Societies, etc. Study
Z 5056-8999 Subject & Personal Bibliographies Study
C. Chronology
All time periods of history are collected.
D. Geographic Guidelines
American history is collected to the highest degree, followed by British, European and then the Third World. A different emphasis in buying in a particular year may reflect new courses or other departmental emphases.
E. Languages
English is the primary language collected. Materials in French, German, Spanish are collected when deemed appropriate for the subject areas.
F. Treatment
Monographs, reference works and periodicals of a scholarly nature are purchased; reprints or retrospective materials are given high priority in certain areas. Government documents are an important area of collecting: national documents in American and British history, state documents of Virginia and other colonial states, and county records for Montgomery and other southwest Virginia counties. Printed or filmed personal papers are acquired selectively.
G. Formats
Primarily print for monographs and most journals,though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographc databases are available through the Internet. Microforms of journal holdings are purchased when unavailable in another format. Videos are acquired upon faculty request, funds permitting.
H. Multiple copies
Multiple copies of heavily used titles are acquired. Newer editions of classic works are also acquired.
II. Acquisition Strategy
The history bibliographer selects materials for purchase with priority being given to faculty requests. The libraries maintain an approval plan for university press books as well as those published by outstanding trade publishers. United States government depository items are also received. Retrospective purchases are selectively considered in order to fill in important journal holdings, or to add important older titles.
III. Collection Notes
Textbooks are not ordinarily purchased, nor are theses and dissertations from other institutions, unless specifically requested. Since the primary purpose of the history collection is to support the university's curriculum and faculty and graduate student research, that is where most of the collecting efforts focus. However, the collection, to a lesser extent, attempts to satisfy general as well as local interest in the field. Efforts are made to maintain a balanced, basic collection in many areas of popular interest.
Revised 10/2000
