SUBJECT AREA: PR-PS - ENGLISH LITERATURE
Purpose: To provide the scholarly support for work in the areas of English literature. Interdisciplinary relationships are with all Humanities subjects, and many Social Science subjects.
Existing Collection Strength: This is a mature, well developed subject area, with works of major authors collected at the Selective (3) level, and secondary authors at the Representative (2) level. A major strength of the collection is the Shakespeare material. Critical works are acquired for all authors taught and selectively for others. Additional collecting of major authors of the second half of the twentieth century and of titles of modern literary criticism and schools of critical thought is necessary.
Chronological Focus: All periods, with lesser emphasis on the period prior to 1600.
Geographic Focus: Worldwide, but with emphasis on the North American and British traditions. There is a growing interest in commonwealth literature.
Preservation Needs: One consideration for this material, particularly of major authors, is to have a regular programme of replacement of titles which receive very heavy use. It is a part of the collection which receives heavy use, and it is important to ensure that there are good editions of all authors who are taught in courses.
Formats Collected: Books and serial publications are of almost equal importance. Videos, DVDs and audio CDs (plays, poetry) are also occasionally purchased.
Current Collection Intensity: All periods and genres with increasing emphasis on Literature, Criticism and Theory of the second half of the Twentieth Century to the present.
Access to Journal Articles: The main indexes in this field are the MLA International Bibliography, Humanities Index, CBCA, and ProQuest Research Library. Other include JSTOR, Project Muse, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, World Shakespeare Bibliography Online, Iter: Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Ingenta, and the Canadian Periodical Index.
Date: May 1996 (Revised May 2003)
Selector Responsible: Jeff Lilburn