Comparative Literature Collection

I. Collection Description

Purpose:

To support, through the doctoral level and beyond, the stated mission of the Program in Comparative Literature, namely to provide an analysis of literary theory through research and teaching undertaken in close cooperation with departments which deal with the literary works of individual languages. The program offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees only. The field is also of interest to the departments of English, Classics, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and also to Asian, African, Latin American, Slavic and Western European Studies.

History of Collection:

The Comparative Literature collection can be traced back to the development of collections in the fields of English, Classics, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and the Latin American, Slavic, Asian, African, and Afro-American areas. The specific building of the collection in the Comparative Literature area started in 1964 with the establishment of a graduate program in Comparative Literature and escalated in 1977 with the approval of an undergraduate program. The collection has shown increases along the lines of the development of the program. (See also corresponding statements for the French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Scandinavian and French Canadian funds). Participation in EBO programs has contributed to the collection in recent years.

Estimate of Holdings:

6,000 volumes in addition to those cited in the statements for French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, French Canadian, and Scandinavian funds.

State, Regional and National Importance:

Unknown.

Unit Responsible for Collecting:

Modern Languages and Linguistics Library.

Location of Materials:

Reference works and a core collection are held in the Modern Languages and Linguistics Library. The majority is in the Bookstacks, the English Library, the Slavic and East European Library, Reference Library, Classics Library, the Asian Library, Rare Book and Special Collections Library, and Undergraduate Library also have relevant materials.

Citations of Works Describing the Collection:

None known.

II. General Collection Guidelines

Languages:

All languages other than the languages handled by the Slavic and East European Library and the Asian Library.

Chronological Guidelines:

No restrictions.

Geographical Guidelines:

Worldwide.

Treatment of Subject:

Standard statement. Materials with primary focus on literary theory, interrelations among national literatures, and literature(s) and other disciplines.

Types of Materials:

Standard statement.

Date of Publication:

Standard statement.

Place of Publication:

Worldwide.

III. Collection Responsibility by Subject Subdivisions with Qualifications, Levels of Collecting Intensity, and Assignments

Below is a table that lists specific subject subdivisions within the collection. Each row in the table lists a specific subject subdivision, followed by three columns noting: Collection Strength, Primary Assignments and Secondary Assignments. The Existing Collecting Strength column notes how well the existing collection covers that topic on a 1 to 5 scale with 5 being very strong. The Primary Assignments column lists departmental libraries that have the greatest collection intensity of subject materials, respectively. In the case of 2 or more libraries listed, the collection intensity is comparable. The Secondary Assignments column list departmental libraries where additional materials may be found.

Comparative Literature Collection
SUBJECT SUBDIVISIONS EXISTING STRENGTH PRIMARY ASSIGNMENTS SECONDARY ASSIGNMENTS
Analysis of literary theory 4 Comparative Literature English
Interrelations among national literatures as well as literature(s) and other disciplines 4 Comparative Literature English
Primary works and secondary studies of literatures not covered by separate funds 2 Comparative Literature

 

Version Date: December 2006