University of Waterloo Library
The accompanying Collection Development Policy statement is submitted by
Anne Fullerton, Liaison Librarian for Biology and is approved by the undersigned.
__________________________________ _____________________________
Associate University Librarian,
Department Chair
Information Resources & Services
_________________________________ _____________________________
Liaison Librarian
Faculty Library Representative
Date:
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University of Waterloo
Library
Collection Development Policy statement for Biology.
Date Completed: February, 2007
Persons Responsible for Collection
The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison
Librarian, Anne Fullerton, in consultation with Faculty Library Representatives,
John Semple and Niels Bols.
Department Description and Purpose
The Department of Biology offers thesis based graduate training at
both the M.Sc. (Master) and Ph.D. (Doctorate) levels.
The Department of Biology offers undergraduate degrees in Bioinformatics,
Biomedical Sciences (formerly Pre-Optometry/ Pre-Health), Honours Biochemistry,
Honours Biochemistry / Biotechnology (Regular and Co-op), and Honours Biology
(Regular and Co-op).
The Department has placed itself at the cutting edge of research to understand
biological systems at a fundamental level and use them for the purpose of promoting
the health and wealth of human beings while at the same time protecting our fragile
environment. Concomitantly, the enrolment in Biology courses has increased
dramatically over the past ten years to the point where the Department of Biology
currently teaches more undergraduates than any other department at the University
of Waterloo.
5 specializations, including animal physiology, ecology and
environmental biology, microbiology, molecular biology and
biotechnology, or plant biology.

Animal Physiology, Developmental Biology & Immunology

Aquatic Ecology

Biochemistry

Bioinformatics (includes Health Informatics)

Cell Biology

Environmental Biology (includes Ecology, Fisheries Biology)

Environmental Toxicology
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
Evolution

Microbiology

Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

Plant Biology (includes Physiology & Systematics)

Biophysics
Scope of Coverage
Languages
English language materials are preferred.
Geographical areas
Departmental priorities are for the following geographic areas: North America
and Europe and Africa (selectively).
Dates of publication
Emphasis is on materials published in the last 7 years.
Types and Formats of Materials Collected
In general, materials acquired by the Library must be accessible within the
Library.
Included
The following types of materials are generally included: Books, periodicals,
reference works, government publications, and textbooks - in print or electronic
format as appropriate.
Collected Selectively
The following types of materials are collected selectively: Conference
proceedings, symposia reports, Technical reports, Standards
Excluded
The following types of materials are excluded: Films, slides, dvd and videos.
Subjects Collected
(For further explanation about collecting levels see Appendix 1)
Biology: general
Biology and society
History of biology
Undergrad
Undergrad
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Experimental methods
Biostatistics
Microscopy
Computer modelling
Undergrad
Basic
Undergrad
Basic
Microbiology
Microbial ecology and biosystematics
Aquatic microbiology (freshwater, groundwater, marine)
Terrestrial microbiology
Research
Research
Research
Cellular, molecular and physiological microbiology
Research
Applied microbiology
Environmental microbiology (biodegradation of contaminants)
Undergrad
Food microbiology
industrial microbiology
(recombinant microorganisms, production of enzymes and
primary metabolites)
Medical microbiology
Undergrad
Research
Research
Out of Scope
Immunology (non-clinical)
Undergrad
Virology (non-clinical)
Undergrad
Invertebrate Zoology
Undergrad
Invertebrate ecology and biosystematics
Entomology
Parasitology
Invertebrate cellular, molecular and physiological
biology
Insect biochemistry and physiology
Undergrad
Research
Basic
Vertebrate Zoology
Undergrad
Vertebrate ecology and biosystematics
Amphibiology
Herpetology
Ichthyology
Mammalogy
Ornithology
Undergrad
Basic
Basic
Research
Undergrad
Basic
Vertebrate cellular, molecular and physiological biology
Fish physiology
Human anatomy
Human physiology
Vertebrate reproductive physiology
Undergrad
Research
Basic
Undergrad
Research
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Research
Research
Cellular, molecular and physiological biology: general
Research
Biochemical and physiological biology
Comparative physiology
Endocrinology
Enzymology
Neurophysiology
Physiological effects of environmental stress
Physiology of aging
Research
Research
Research
Basic
Basic
Research
Research
Cellular biology
Cytology
Developmental biology
Cell growth and differentiation
Embryology
Morphogenesis
Histology
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Basic
Molecular biology
Genetics
Cytogenetics
Research
Research
Research
Applied cellular, molecular and physiological biology
Animal cells in culture
Plant cells in culture
Industrial enzymology
Research
Research
Research
Undergrad
Plant Biology
Plant ecology and biosystematics
Higher plants
Mycology
Phycology
Plant anatomy and morphology
Palaeobotany
Palynology
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Basic
Undergrad
Cellular, molecular and physiological plant biology
Molecular effect of environmental stress
Photosynthesis
Plant anatomy and morphogenesis
Plant growth regulators (proteins, hormones)
Transport in plants
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Applied plant biology
Agriculture
Forestry
Horticulture
Out of Scope
Out of Scope
Out of Scope
Out of Scope
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Natural products biochemistry (algae, fungi, higher plants)
Research
Plant cell culture
Research
Ecology: general
Research
Community and population ecology
Research
Aquatic ecology
Aquatic plant biology
Aquatic toxicology
Fisheries biology
Limnology
Marine biology
Oceanography (physical)
Paleolimnology
Research
Research
Research
Research
Research
Undergrad
Basic
Research
Terrestrial ecology
Research
Behavioural ecology
Amphibians
Birds
Fish
Insects
Mammals (except man)
Reptiles
Research
D
D
Research
Research
Research
D
Evolution
Research
Environmental Toxicology
Research
Aquatic toxicology
Research
Medical toxicology
Out of Scope
Pesticides
Research
Biodeterioration and cycling of toxicants
Research
Cellular, developmental and physiological effects of toxicants
Research
All collections are systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that
essential and important resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles
containing outdated information are withdrawn as necessary. Classic retrospective
materials are retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
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LC Call Number Ranges
GB 651-2998 Hydrology, water
GC 96 – 1581 Oceanography
QD 1-9
QD 241-377
QD 415-441
Chemistry (gen)
Organic chemistry
Biological chem.
QE 39.5.P25 – 39.5.P3 Paleolimnology
QE 701-996.5 Paleontology
QH 1-705
Cytology
QK 1-989
QL 1-991
QM 1-695
QP 1-801
QR 1-502
R 5-125
Biology(gen). Evolution. Genetics. Reproduction. Ecology.
Botany
Zoology
Human anat., embryol
Physiology
Microbiology
Medicine (gen)
RA 565-602 Environ. Health
RA 638-766 Disease transmit.
RA 1190-1270 Toxicology
RB 1-125
Pathology (gen)
RC 71-422 Diseases – physical, chemical, parasitic, tumors etc.
RC 581-951 Diseases of systems
RG 133-137.5 Conception
RM 1-190
Pharmacology (gen)
RM 300-666 Drugs and action
RS 1-199 Pharmacy (gen)
S 583-667 Agriculture
S 900-954 Conservation nat. res.
SB 1-998 Plant culture
SF 1-99
Animal culture
SF 405.5-409 Lab animals
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SF 518-597
SH 1-399
Insect culture
Fisheries, aquaculture
TD 172-477 Environ., water pollution
TD 878-890 Air, soil pollution
TP 247-248 Chemical technology
Other Resources Available
The Library explores opportunities for collaborative purchases with the Ontario
Council of University Libraries and the Canadian Research Knowledge Network.
Appendix 1: Collecting Levels, adapted from RLG Guidelines
Out of Scope
Materials to support research and curricula in this subject area are not covered in
this Collection Policy Statement. Coverage of interdisciplinary subject areas and
topics linked across departments can be identified with references to other Collection
Policy Statements.
Basic Information/Reference Level
The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important
reference works, general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited
selection of representative general periodicals are collected.
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study. Materials collected include a
wide range of reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection
of monographs and periodicals. Access to owned or remotely-accessed electronic
resources, including texts, journals, data sets, etc. is provided.
Research Level
The collection includes major published source materials required for master’s degree
programmes, doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including
appropriate foreign-language titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs,
archival materials, and back-runs of serials are acquired as necessary.
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