Collection Development Policy
Classics

 

PROGRAMS AND CLIENTELE SUPPORTED:

Undergraduate program in Classics and undergraduate and graduate students in History, Theology, Medieval Studies, Art History, English, Romance Languages and related humanistic disciplines. Classes in both Classical history and mythology (as well as other classes as: sports in the ancient world, women in antiquity and courses on ancient Egypt) are offered by faculty in the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Literatures although most students in these courses are not Classics majors.

SUBJECT LIAISON:

David Jenkins
1136 Hesburgh Library
Medieval Institute
(574) 631-9036
Jenkins.31@nd.edu

GENERAL COLLECTING GUIDELINES:

Overall there is a heavy reliance on the Blackwell North America Approval Plan for English language titles in Classical studies and some small reliance on the Harrassowitz Plan for German language materials, especially the Teubner editions. The departmental allocation is used primarily for other European publications and to a lesser extent for non approval publishers in the U.S. and the U.K. and for volumes above the $125 approval limit.

Languages:  Primary sources in Ancient Greek and Latin. Secondary works predominately in English, German, French and Italian.

Chronology:  From the Bronze Age through the fall of the Roman Empire (ca. 3000 B.C. - 500 A.D.).

Treatment of Subject:  In general we attempt to purchase scholarly editions of Classical texts and a representative sampling of important secondary works on Classical literatures as well as a few titles on Classical civilization. Because of our present curriculum emphasis, and our unique situation with the Anastos Collection (see under Special Considerations), we concentrate more of our acquisition activity on Roman civilization than on the Greek world.

Type of Materials:  Primarily books and serials with some microfilms, microfiche, 35mm videocassettes and an occasional CD-ROM product.

COORDINATION INFORMATION:

Most coordination of purchases take place with the Medieval Institute which has been quite helpful both by taking over the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae and by purchasing major dictionaries as well as all post-classical Latin literature and paleography. They also acquire items on the transmission of the Classics through the end of the medieval period. Among other departments the Classics collection is regarded as the exclusive responsibility of the Classical and Oriental Languages and Literatures Department. Therefore, History does not purchase ancient Greek or Roman history and Theology does not purchase works on Classical mythology (although they do purchase some titles on Roman religious cults). Unfortunately, some other departments are not as forthcomming. Whereas the history department will use its budget to purchase French, German, Spanish and Italian history they do not purchase ancient Greek or Roman history, but rather expect the Classical literature fund to pick up historical and archaeological materials. Similarly, Theology does not purchase works on Classical mythology (although they do purchase some titles on Roman religious cults).

Within the department there is good coordination. Department faculty send requests directly to the bibliographer. Major purchases and future directions are discussed with a department member assigned as library coordinator. There is also a close working relationship with the department chair and occasional departmental library meetings. Also, lists of books recently cataloged in the Anastos library (see under Special Considerations) are sent to the department chair for circulation and there is communication with Anastos on possible purchases.

COLLECTING LEVELS:

Currently we are collecting editions and major studies in Latin literature at a level 3 and in Greek literature at a somewhat lower level, however it would certainly be a level 3 or possibly higher if Anastos acquisitions were taken into account. Based on current expenditures our collection levels are as follows:

Subject	Collecting Level
Greek Language	1
Greek Literature	2
Greek History	1
Greek Mythology	1
Latin Language	1
Latin Literature	3
Roman History	1
Epigraphy	1
Archaeology	1
Transmission of Classics	1
English translations	1

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Classics does not have an endowment but has been able to take advantage of some supplemental funding in the past few years to help build the collection. Some retrospective purchasing was done to fill in journal runs and to bring our Teubner, Bude, Oxford and Patavia Classical text series up to date. We also purchased microfilms of several older Classical works that had been made available through the American Philological Association microfilm preservation program at Columbia University. Also, about ten new journal titles were added to our holdings and an added copy of the complete Loeb Classical Library was purchased for the Reserve Book Room.

An outstanding Byzantine collection, the Anastos collection, is now housed in Los Angeles, but will eventually come to Notre Dame. It is strong in Classics titles, and influences our collecting to some extent.

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