Religion
Statement of program and library needs
The Religious Studies Program was merged into the Humanities Program and is part of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies. Courses in religion are descriptive in nature, dealing with forms of Eastern as well as Western religious phenomena and thought. Religion may be chosen as an area of concentration in the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree program.
The purpose of the collection in religion is to support the curriculum as well as the teaching and research efforts of the faculty in the program. In addition, the collection should attempt to supplement the general research requirements of all university departments.
The 18-hour concentration in religious studies is equivalent to a minor and may be used to complement any disciplinary major or as part of an IDST degree.
I. Collection areas
A. Area: Religion
B. Classes and Levels
BL Religions. Mythology. Rationalism Study BM Judaism Study BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc. Study BQ Buddhism Study BR Christianity (General) Study BS Bible Study BT Doctrinal Theology Study BV Practical Theology Minimal BX 1-799 Eastern Christian Churches Minimal BX 800-4795 Roman Catholic Church Study BX 4800-9999 Protestantism Study
C. Chronology
Emphasis is on the history of religions, religious thought, and Biblical studies. In general, works in all religious periods from ancient to twentieth century are acquired as available.
D. Geographic Guidelines
Primary Emphasis is on Western religious thought, religions of Africa, India, China, Japan, plus Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the native religions of North and South America.
E. Languages
Books primarily intended for student use are purchased in English. English is the primary language of the collection. Some original works of historical importance are purchased in the original language.
F. Treatment
Monographs and periodicals of a scholarly nature form the nucleus of the collection. The library collects basic indexes, abstracts, and encyclopedias relating to the field; publications of professional organizations, including their conference proceedings, are selectively collected. A basic goal of the collection is to acquire the fundamental sacred works of the major religions.
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 sometimes acquired upon faculty request, funds permitting.
H. Multiple copies
Very few are purchased except for heavily used titles.
II. Acquisition Strategy
The religion bibliographer selects materials for purchase. Criteria for selection include: need; demand (specific faculty requests); availability of the item; price; and importance of the author or the work in the subject field. The libraries maintain an approval plan for university press books as well as those published by outstanding trade publishers. The serials collection is periodically reviewed for the purpose of canceling some subscriptions and adding other important basic subscriptions.
III. Collection Notes
Upper level textbooks are acquired selectively. Popular treatments of religious subjects are generally excluded. Theses and dissertations from other universities are not collected unless specifically requested by a faculty member.
A comprehensive university such as Virginia Tech requires library resources in the field of religion in order to support a good liberal arts education. Many university disciplines are dependent upon materials in religion--i.e., English, history, sociology, the humanities program, etc. With the initiation of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, the study of religion will entail resource sharing and collaboration with the area studies program, women's studies, black studies, science and technology studies, etc.
Revised 10/2000
