Collection Management Policy
Objective of this policy
The objective of this policy is to ensure that the collection of Heythrop College Library is managed in such a way as to achieve the aims of the Library within the resources available. These resources consist not only of the funds available for acquisitions and maintenance but also of all media within the collection. The policy covers all aspects of their management: acquisitions, housing, maintenance and disposals.
Aims of the Library
The aims of the Library are determined by the aims of its two principal stakeholders, namely the College and the British Province of the Society of Jesus whose assets are held by the Trustees for Roman Catholic Purposes. The Library is the property of the Trustees and is on loan to the Governors of the College in order to assist the College in carrying out its mission. The TRCP provide an annual sum “for the purchase of books and periodicals and for their maintenance” to be “applied in large measure to keeping up to date as far as possible the theological, philosophical and jesuitica sections of the library”. The College additionally provides a sum for the provision of multiple copies. It is the responsibility of the Governors to maintain the collection and the TRCP reinvests the rental paid to assist with this responsibility. The Library remains the principal Theological and Philosophical library of the Province.
Heythrop College Library aims to support the College in its mission:-
To make a significant contribution in the fields of theology and philosophy to the intellectual and educational life of the University, of society in general and of the Christian community in particular.
To form men and women for ministry within the Christian faith communities, especially the Catholic community.
To foster a sustained theological and philosophical reflection upon, dialogue with and critique of contemporary secular and religious culture.
To promote and develop engagement and dialogue with other religious traditions.
To be a resource for the life and mission of the Catholic Church and the wider Christian community. (Policy and Resources Strategy Committee Report - October 2002)
To meet these aims of its stakeholders the Library seeks:-
To be a nationally significant resource in theology and in philosophy, the strengths of which reflect its Roman Catholic and Jesuit tradition. In pursing this goal it takes into account, not just the needs of the College, but also theUniversity, the British Province, the Christian community, and researchers in general.
To provide the learning resources which the College, its staff and its students, require for their teaching, learning and research.
Reading Lists
Reading lists given to students are the primary source of information about the requirements of taught courses. They are also an indicator of the relevance of works for an up to date collection in the field. It is, therefore, the policy of the Library to obtain copies of all reading lists given by academic staff to their students and to acquire, as far as possible, the works on the reading lists to the following level.
· Essential text:: the Library will normally purchase 1 copy for every 7 Undergraduate or every 12 Postgraduate students.
· Recommended text : the Library will normally purchase 1 copy for every 20 students.
· Background reading : the Library will normally purchase 1 copy .
Requests
Where reasonably possible, with in the limits of the budget available and in so far as these fit with the policy set out here, the Library will seek to acquire items requested by readers.
Acquisitions
The Library will seek to acquire new material in according the aims set out above, in so far as the budget allows.
Donations
The Library accepts donations on the understanding that any such donations become the property of the Trustees and that the Library is free to dispose of any items not required for the collection. The Library will only retain those donated items which conform to the over all collection policy.
Disposals
It is the policy of the Library to dispose of the following:-
1. Duplicate copies - where these are not required to provide multiple copies for teaching purposes.
2. Items which do fit with the aims set out in this policy.
Periodicals
In general the purchase of periodicals is governed by the same principles as the purchase of monographs. The Library benefits from exchanges received by two periodicals, The Heythrop Journals and The Way. These exchanges are entered into in consultation with the Library. These exchanges are intended to be mutually beneficial to the parties involved. They enable the Library to obtain periodicals, relevant to its aims, for which it would otherwise have to pay a full subscription or which it could not, otherwise justify purchasing. In some cases, especially with periodicals from poorer institutions the principal benefit is recognised as being to those institutions rather than to Heythrop. The Library, therefore, receives some periodicals in languages which few of its readers speak or which it would not otherwise consider obtaining.
Conservation
The Library is required by the loan agreement to maintain its collection. Priority in binding and conservation goes to:-
Current periodical series, where likely to be in heavy use or where there has been a binding policy in the past.
Books in heavy demand, where these cannot be supplemented or replaced.
Rare books of high commercial or historical value.
Electronic Media
The Library has a small collection of CD-ROMs and a number of on-line subscriptions. It will develop its electronic media collection in accordance with the policy above, in as far as this provides cost effective use of resources. Electronic subscriptions can be of particular benefit to part-time students living at a distance from the College. However, given the small size of the College, it is sometimes difficult to make economic use of electronic subscriptions and, unlike paper subscriptions, they do not give permanent access to the material. Care is, therefore, exercised to ensure that the acquisition of electronic media is not at the expense of more traditional resources.
Subject Policies
PHILOSOPHY
Classes B-BD, BH-BL
The Library’s extensive collection serves to support teaching and research in Philosophy. It aims to serve almost all the needs of taught undergraduates and post-graduates in the field. The Library does, however, have particular strengths in which it seeks to maintain a research level collection. The University of London is very rich in Philosophical collections and Heythrop students, researchers and staff make use of these for those areas of Philosophy which lie outside the Library’s primary focus.
While the main strength of the collection is in English, the Library also seeks to hold key texts of major Philosophers in the original languages.
History of Philosophy (B121-B4378)
The Library maintains a collection across a wide range of the History of Philosophy. However, its focus for collection development is upon particular strengths.
Support for undergraduate courses in Greek Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, Post-Aristotelean Philosophy, Phemomenology and 19 th Century German Philosophy.
Particular emphasis on Philosophy in the ages of faith.
Particular emphasis on Catholic Philosophers and on philosophers of special relevance to Philosophy of Religion, Hermeneutics and Theology.
Logic, Epistemology and Metaphysics (BC,BD)
The Library supports taught courses in Logic, Epistemology and Metaphysics as well as providing back ground material in these areas for Philosophy and Theology in general.
Philosophy of Psychology/Philosophy of Mind (BF) – see Psychology
Aesthetics (BH)
The Library provides undergraduate level support in Aesthetics.
Ethics (BJ, also some sections in H – Social and Business Ethics - and R – Medical Ethics)
The Library has a particular strength in Philosophical Ethics in support of teaching and research both in this area and in Moral Theology. It is seeking to build on its strength in Social and Business Ethics.
Philosophy of Religion (BL1-300)
Research and learning in this field forms a major part of the work of the College and the Library’s collection reflects this. It seeks to maintain a research level collection in this field.
Political Philosophy (J, and sections of H)
The Library supports undergraduate teaching in this area. Its collection also provides teaching and research at greater depth in the relationship between Politics, Ethics and Theology. The collection also supports the work of the Heythrop Institute of Religion, Ethics and Public Life.
Philosophy of Science (Q)
The Library supports undergraduate teaching in this area. It also focuses particularly on the relationship between Science and Religion as well as on the relationship between Science and Ethics.
PSYCHOLOGY
Classmarks BF & R and related areas of H Social Science.
The Library maintains a Psychology collection to support teaching and research in Psychology of Religion and Philosophy of Mind and Philosophy of Psychology. It also holds works covering the relationship between Psychology and Theology.
The Library’s holding in Psychology is focussed on these specialist areas and is not intended to provide a comprehensive coverage of the discipline. The College is, however, fortunate in that the very considerable resources of the University of London, the British Library and specialist libraries are easily available within the London area to supplement what Heythrop College Library can provide.
The Library also holds the collection of the Westminster Pastoral Foundation which supports training in Psychotherapy under taken by WPF. WPF is responsible for the development of this collection although the Library will occasionally acquire items of mutual interest.
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Classmarks BL300-8300, BLQ, BM, BP
This section Library’s of the collection covers material dealing with religion in general and with specific religious traditions. It supports teaching and research in the field of Inter-Religious dialogue, especially the work of the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue. In addition it supports undergraduate teaching on particular non-Christian religious traditions. It also contains material which supports other areas of study, for example Spirituality, Biblical Studies and Theology. The collection is intended to support these particular areas and does not aim to give comprehensive coverage of religious studies or provide a research collection on non-Christian religious traditions. Such material may be found in the University of London Library, other College libraries within the University and the various specialist libraries within the London area.
BIBLICAL STUDIES
Classmark BS
The Library supports teaching and research across the full range of Biblical Studies. In addition its Philosophy, Theology and Literature and Language collection provide additional resources in the areas of hermeneutics and literary criticism. The Library has a particular strength in contemporary critical Biblical Studies. The Library’s collection is complimented by others within the University of London, particularly the resources in ancient near eastern languages at SOAS and the resources of the Institute of Classical Studies.
The Library collects the major commentaries as well as monographs. In general works collected are in English, although major works,especially those not available in English, are obtained and there is a significant collection of German works. The Library also has a good collection of periodicals in the field.
THEOLOGY
Classmarks BQ-BR, BT, BV (post 1900)
Theology forms the core of Heythrop Library’s collection. Its main strength is in Roman Catholic theology but collection also covers other traditions. The Library’s long history enables it to serve as a library of record tracing the history of Theology
Christian Writers (BQ)
The Library aims to hold the works of major Christian writers both in the original languages and in translation. It also holds secondary works on these writers. This collection, covering both the patristic period and more modern writers, is one of the main strengths of the Library. As far as possible the Library seeks to keep this collection up to date.
Reformed Theology (BR)
The Library collects major authors in the reformed tradition. While not as strong as its collection in Roman Catholic theology, the Library does aim to have a representative collection.
Systematic Theology (BT1-1589)
The Library aims to maintain a research level collection in Systematic Theology. The Library aims to have a particular strength in Ecclesiology and in Political Theology as well as in more general works. The Library’s provision in Systematic Theology is supported in particular by the Philosophy collection which has a particular emphasis on Philosophy relevant to Theology.
Moral Theology (BT1703-BT2073)
The Library has a major collection in moral theology with particular strengths in Medical Ethics and Social Ethics which are maintained. The Business Ethics collection is being developed. The Moral Theology collection is supported by that in Philosophical Ethics and Social Sciences.
Spirituality (BT2130-2831)
The Library supports academic teaching and research in Spirituality with particular strengths in Roman Catholic and Ignatian Spirituality. It also seeks to be strong in English Spirituality. It endeavours to hold classic texts both in the original languages and in translation. The Library does not, in general, collect popular or devotional material.
Pastoral Theology (BT2903-2831, BV)
The Library collection supports teaching and research in the area of pastoral theology. In general the Library does not collect materials intended for pastoraluse with individuals or groups.The collection also supports teaching for the Certificate in Evangelisation and Catechesis for Parish Ministry.
Liturgy (BT4001-5500)
The main focus of the Collection is on Roman Catholic Liturgy although there is also some coverage of other traditions.The Library has an important collection of both classic texts and modern workswhich it seeks to maintain.
CHURCH HISTORY AND HISTORY
Classmarks BX, BZ, C-F
The Library has a large and varied collection in Church History. Especially through its rare books and Patristics collections, it also has a large number of primary sources. The Library’s collections in other areas also contain a great deal of historical material.
Teaching
Teaching in the area of Church History is currently limited although a new Masters programme is under development.
The Library seeks to provide for the teaching in this area. Firstly through acquiring the necessary texts covering the specific areas and periods of Church History taught; secondly, through maintaining a small number of basic texts and reference works in the general history of the areas and periods covered; and finally, through a small collection covering the philosophy and methodology of history.
Research
It is recognised that the research under taken in Church History, both within the College and by outside scholars using the Library, covers a very wide range. Often this research requires highly specialised resources as well as material providing the context to the topic being researched. The Library cannot expect to meet all these needs and the College is fortunate that the very considerable resources of the University of London, the British Library and specialist libraries are easily available within the London area to supplement what Heythrop College Library can provide.
The Library is, however, a significant resource for researchers and it does seek to maintain its collection through acquisitions, especially in the following areas:-
General Church History
History of the Society of Jesus - especially the English/British Province
History of the Roman Catholic Church, especially in England
Disposals
Over the years the Library has acquired a large collection general history collection from a variety of sources. Much of this collection is of little relevance to the teaching of Church History or to the specialist subject areas. Also, many of the secondary texts within this collection do not reflect modern scholarship. The cost of housing and maintaining this collection is considerable and it is the policy of the Library to dispose of these items.
CANON LAW
Classmarks KBR-KBV
The Canon Law collection supports postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and staff research. The collection is one of the more significant Canon Law collections in the country and aims to hold key texts as well as modern commentaries, monographs and periodicals. The collection also has material on the history of Canon Law as well as historical material in this area reflecting the long history of the Library. The collection focuses on Western Roman Catholic Canon Law although Anglican and Eastern Canon Law are represented.
EDUCATION
Classmark L
The Library has a small collection of study and teachingguides to assist students and academic staff in their work. The Library does not, in general, collect material in Religious Education, although it does hold a smallnumber of items in this field.
ARTS AND MUSIC
Classmarks M and N
The Library has a very small collection of material on religious art and music. This supports teaching and research in Theology, Church History and Biblical Studies.The Library does not collect in this area except where the material is of clearly important for these disciplines.
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE
Classmark P
It is the policy of the College to maintain a small collection of items on literature and language in the following areas:-
Language material to support Biblical Studies and Patristics.
Language material to support Philosophy of Language.
Works on Literary Criticism to support Biblical Studies and the more general study of hermeneutics.
Literature of Theological or Philosophical significance, especially Roman Catholic and other Christian writers.
Literature relevant to the history of the Society of Jesus.
Over the years the Library has acquired a considerable collection of literature from a variety of sources. It is the policy of the Library to dispose of items with do not fit with the collection policy set out above.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Classmark Z
The Library collects bibliographical resources to support the research of staff and students. Some of the key bibliographical resources in Philosophy and Theology are now available electronically. The Library has access to the two major databases in these fields the ATLA database, available on line for all staff and students as well as on CD, and the Philosopher’s Index, available on a terminal in the Philosophy Library. The Library continues to keep up to date the major hard copy bibliographies. The Library also has hard bibliographical resources of early printed books to support its own extensive collection. The library retains bibliographical material where this is likely to be of continued use to researchers.