Physics

Statement of programs and library needs

The Department of Physics offers the B.S., B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.

At the bachelors level, students in the BS program are those looking pursue an advanced degree or to join the technical staffs of industry or government laboratories. The BA degree is designed to meet the needs of those students who wish to apply knowledge of physics to other areas.

Candidates for advanced degrees may conduct research and specialize in experimental and/or theoretical aspects of astronomical, condensed matter, elementary particle, mathematical, medium energy, optical, or statistical physics. The department also has programs directed toward improvement in physics teaching, including the testing of model physics courses, development of multimedia techniques for teaching enhancement, and creation of computer simulations. The department offers an Applied and Industrial Physics option which leads to a degree of MS in physics and prepares students to apply physics principles to technological problems of interest to industry.

Besides supporting the curriculum of the Department of Physics, the physics literature is important in the fields of chemistry, computer science, engineering, and geology.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Physics

 

B. Classes and Levels

QB 1-139      General Astronomy                   	Study
QB 145-237    Practical and Spherical Astronomy   	Study
QB 349-480    Theoretical Astronomy, Celestial 
	      Mechanics, Astrophysics             	Research
QB 495-903    Descriptive Astronomy               	Study
QB 980-991    Cosmogony and Cosmology             	Research
QC 1-75       General Physics                     	Research
QC 81-114     Weights and Measures                	Study
QC 120-168.86 Descriptive and Experimental Mechanics	Research
QC 170-197    Atomic and Solid State Physics, Quantum
	      Theory, Relativity  			Research
QC 221-246    Acoustics and Sound                 	Study
QC 251-338.5  Heat and Thermodynamics             	Research
QC 350-467O   ptics and Light                     	Research
QC 474-496.9  Radiation Physics                   	Research
QC 501-766    Electricity and Magnetism           	Research
QC 770-798    Nuclear & Particle Physics, Atomic Energy	Research
QC 801-809    Geophysics and Cosmic Physics       	Research

C. Chronology

Emphasis is on the acquisitions of current imprints.

D. Geographic Guidelines

Emphasis is chiefly on materials published in the United States, Europe or Japan.

E. Languages

English language materials are of primary interest. Other languages including French, German, Russian, or Spanish are collected selectively, usually through faculty request. Translations are generally preferred when available.

F. Treatment

Emphasis is on upper level and graduate texts, research monographs, professional society publications, reviews, and journals. Reference works, conference proceedings and general interest books (particularly in astronomy) are purchased selectively. Dissertations and juvenile treatments are not purchased. Lower level texts are generally purchased only if requested by faculty.

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 are generally purchased only if requested by a faculty member. Selected bibliographic indexes are also made available in machine-readable form.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies are purchased for heavily-used titles as funds permit. Newer editions of classic works are acquired whenever possible.

II. Acquisition Strategy

Materials are selected by the bibliographer for physics with priority given to faculty and student requests. The Libraries maintain an approval plan for books from many university press and significant trade publishers along with subscriptions and standing orders for many important serials. Particular effort is made to acquire publications of the American Institute of Physics. Biographies of famous and influential physicists are purchased selectively, as are some materials on the history of physics. Retrospective purchasing is generally limited to replacement of worn or lost materials. Gifts are not a significant means of acquisitions.

III. Collection Notes

The physics collection is also used by engineers, and geologists.

Revised 10/2000