Anthropology

Collection Development Statement

Last updated July 2020

Overview

The MSE Library’s collection supports the research and studies of both faculty and students of the university’s anthropology department and other departments across campus. The study of sociocultural anthropology requires an interdisciplinary approach that considers the data, theories, and findings of a wide variety of other subjects. This is demonstrated by the faculty that teach in other departments across campus. Similarly, many other disciplines utilize the theories and findings of anthropologists and anthropological resources to inform their work as it relates to cultural norms and mores, as well as intercultural communication and relations.

Departments/disciplines/programs subject areas supported

The anthropology collection supports all of the programs within the Anthropology department. This includes an undergraduate major and minor as well as a doctoral program. Again, due to the interdisciplinary nature of anthropology, the materials of this collection are often used by students in other departments (see collaborations below).

Formats Collected

• Audiovisual materials
• Collected editions
• Databases
• Dissertations
• Edited volumes
• Monographs
• Serials
• Textbooks

Languages Collected

Materials are collected primarily in English although a variety of other languages (most prominently French, German, and Spanish) are present. While preference is given to English language materials, resources in other languages may be added as deemed appropriate or upon faculty/student request.

Chronological or geographical focus

No priority is given to any geographical region or period of history. Due to the often comparative and diachronic nature of anthropological research to do so would be limiting to the resources available to our scholars.

Collaborations

The very nature of Anthropology demands interdisciplinary collaboration. Some of the frequent collaborations involve: