University High School - Collections

Description

The collection is maintained by the University High School Library.

The collection supports the curricula of the high school, the reading enrichment and personal information needs of the students, and, to a limited extent, the immediate research needs of the University Laboratory High School faculty and other campus educational researchers. In addition to the students and faculty of University Laboratory High School, the library also serves student teachers and practicum students, and undergraduate and graduate students and faculty of other schools, departments and colleges. The collection consists of 12,750 volumes and approximately 4,000 other items including videotapes, other non-book materials, and uncataloged paperback titles.

Revised November 2006

Statements

I. Collection Description

Purpose:

To provide a collection of materials to implement, enrich, and support the curriculum of University Laboratory High School and to meet the educational, emotional, and recreational needs of students, faculty, and staff. In addition, the University Laboratory High School Library serves the University community at large, student teachers, area teachers, and students and faculty of other schools, departments, and colleges.

History of Collection:

Established as an integral part of a laboratory school under the direction of the College of Education, University Laboratory High School Library opened with the school in September 1921. A full-time librarian was appointed at that time.  With the addition of a special accelerated subfreshman group in the Fall of 1932, library facilities were expanded to meet the  special personal and curricular needs of this group. The nature of the school and the extensive use of the library by students in the College of Education demonstrated the need for additional professional material; therefore, the Curriculum Library (now known as the Professional Collection) was established in March 1938.

It was not until September 1941 that the library became a departmental library of the University Library. Since that date, certain functions, such as the materials and supply budget, personnel, and computer equipment have been provided by the University Library.  The school, however, provides direct support for unique needs, such as audiovisual equipment. This  collaboration is necessary because the library is an integral part of the instructional program of the school. Since 1944, the collection has grown from 6,596 to 8,600 in 1954, and over 16,000 in 1991. After extensive weeding in preparation for a retrospective conversion program in 1993, the collection was reduced to approximately 12,000. At the end of 1999, the collection stabilized at just under 13,000 cataloged volumes and approximately 3,500 uncataloged paperback titles.

Estimate of Holdings:

12,750 volumes and approximately 4,000 other items including videotapes, other non-book materials, and uncataloged paperback titles.

State, Regional and National Importance:

Students at University Laboratory High School enjoy not only the wide variety of materials in the high school library, but also access to all other departmental libraries, libraries in the ILCSO consortium, and University Library interlibrary loan services The school collection is valued by external users for its wide variety of non-fiction young adult material.

Unit Responsible for Collecting:

University Laboratory High School Library’s professional staff.

Location of Materials:

University Laboratory High School Library. Periodicals, current and back issues in room 201; Monographs and audiovisual materials (except video tapes) in rooms 203 and 204; video tapes in room 202.

Citations of Works Describing the Collection:

None known.

II. General Collection Guidelines

Languages:

The majority of the collection is in English. Some French, German, Latin, and Russian materials are maintained for foreign language study of 1st-4th year language students.  Primarily English-language Japanese cultural materials are maintained for 1st-4th year students of Japanese.

Chronological Guidelines:

No restrictions.

Geographical Guidelines:

Outside of Africa with emphasis on the American.

Treatment of Subject:

The primary focus is to acquire current materials suitable for young adults in all general subject areas, including some fiction.  The librarian serves on the school Curriculum Committee, ensuring that the collection reflects curricular needs and trends. Particular emphasis is placed upon acquisition in science and technology, and of materials offering different viewpoints on controversial issues in the political and social science fields, in order to support student debate topics.

Types of Materials:

There are no restrictions on formats collected.  However, some formats tend not to be collected because they either do not fulfill a collection need, or because of their format, are prohibitively expensive (e.g. CD-ROM audio discs).  Acquisitions include materials in the following formats: monographs, serials, videotape, slides, and CD-ROM and online products.

Date of Publication:

No restrictions.

Place of Publication:

No restrictions.

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.

University High School
SUBJECT SUBDIVISIONS EXISTING STRENGTH PRIMARY ASSIGNMENTS SECONDARY ASSIGNMENTS
Generalities 1 University High School
Philosophy and Related Disciplines 1 University High School
Religion 1 University High School
Social Sciences 1 University High School
Languages 1 University High School
Pure Sciences 1 University High School
Technology 1 University High School
The Arts 1 University High School
Literature 1 University High School
General Geography and History 1 University High School
Debate Topics 2 University High School

 

Revised November 2006