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English Language and Literature

  1. General Scope
    This section defines the general priorities governing selection.
    1. Audience
      The English Language and Literature collection supports the instructional and research needs of Dartmouth College undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Emphasis in the collection is on the English language and world literatures in English from the early Medieval period to the present.
    2. Boundaries
      Works of interest to the scholarship and teaching of English language and literature are found in the following Library of Congress classifications:

      PE - English Language
      PN - General and Comparative Literature
      PR - English Literature
      PS - American Literature

      Some materials acquired before 1964 are in the Dewey Decimal classification 800-829; some Native American literature materials reside in the PM classification. All of these ranges are housed in Baker-Berry Library. Other existing collection development policy statements at Dartmouth which affect the English collection are, for the general collections: Native American Studies and Comparative Literature; in Rauner Special Collections Library: Rare Books and Modern British and American Literature (Manuscripts).

    3. Partnerships
      No formal consortial agreements are currently in place for print monographs in English language and literature.
  2. Specific Delimitations to collecting in this subject area

    1. Languages
      The English language, from its earliest history to its present diversity as a global language. Excluded generally are English language works translated into a foreign language, as well as the English translations of foreign language works, which are covered by the policies for literatures in their originating languages.
    2. Geographical Areas (if applicable)
      Literatures in English are collected for the entire English-speaking world.
    3. Types of Materials Collected
      The collection consists of monographic materials (primary and secondary) and strong serial holdings. Significant new editions of primary works and revised versions of literary history, criticism, and biography are also collected. All genres (poetry, short stories, essay collections, fiction, science fiction, etc) are collected. Graphic novels and comics are collected to support a growing area of scholarship and teaching. Some bestsellers, humor, and other materials of current interest are purchased for the browsing collection in the Tower Room. Primary works of children's literature are excluded, save for Newbery and Caldecott award winners.
    4. Format of Materials Collected
      In addition to printed materials, the Library acquires electronic backfiles of many journals and other materials. The Library also has purchased or licensed significant full-text databases of literary materials, including, for example, Early English Books Online, Eighteenth-Century Collections Online, Early American Imprints, Literature Online, the Schomburg Black Studies Center, and Alexander Street's drama collections. Film and video is collected on DVD and via licensed streaming services to support its use in scholarship and teaching.
    5. Collective Collections
      Users of English language and literature collection benefit from the general availability of materials through the wider Borrow Direct partnerships. Open access resources, such as Hathi Trust, provide access to historical literary materials.
  3. Revision History