Social Sciences Library
Anthropology Collection Policy
April 2007
FUND ID
ANTHY
SUBJECT SPECIALIST
Nonny Schlotzhauer
Social Sciences Librarian
208D Paterno Library
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 863-4644
Email: nonny@psu.edu
DEPARTMENT LIAISON
Nina Jablonski, Head
Department of Anthropology
409 Carpenter Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: (814) 865-2509
Email: ngj2@psu.edu
PURPOSE AND PROGRAMMATIC INFORMATION
Anthropology documents, describes and explains the physical and cultural differences of
societies, both past and present. Anthropology sees the individual as part of a larger
social order that both impinges upon and is molded by those who belong to it.
Anthropology investigates how cultures interact and relate within specific economic,
political and ecological framework over time.
The collection supports current and anticipated teaching and research needs of the
Anthropology Department in the College of the Liberal Arts. The department offers the
Ph.D, M.A., B.A., and B.S. degrees in anthropology. Undergraduates may major or minor in
anthropology, or major in biological anthropology or archaeological sciences. Graduates
programs are offered in archaeology, biological anthropology and cultural anthropology,
and in anthropology and demography. The department has a strong geographic
emphasis on the Americas.
The department has an empirical, scientific focus that is scientific in nature and is
organized into three sub-disciplines or research concentrations:
1. Archaeology: Focuses upon past societies, both ancient and historic, in order to
understand and explain the processes causing cultures to change over large
spans of time. The archaeology program has a research agenda focusing on
ancient, complex societies, especially those of the Americas.
2. Biological Anthropology: Seeks to describe and explain human biological variation
today and in the past. Research and graduate training in biological anthropology
at Penn State focus on human population, developmental, and evolutionary
biology.
3. Cultural Anthropology: Strives to understand and explain differences and
similarities among the world's many cultures as ongoing systems.
The Department is the academic home to 22 fulltime faculty members, and a number of
adjunct faculty and research associates. The Department has about fifty active graduate
students, seventy-five undergraduate majors and twenty-five undergraduate minors.
SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION
Anthropology is by its nature strongly interdisciplinary. Collections in anthropology may
overlap with those in the following areas:
African Studies
Biology
Geography
History
Latin American Studies
Sociology
Political Science
Women’s Studies
Library Locations for Anthropology Related Materials
Subject
Call Number Range
Library/Location
Archaeology
Pre-Columbian period. Native
Americans
United States local history
Latin America. Spanish America
Human geography.
Anthropogeography
Anthropology (General)
Physical anthropology
Ethnology. Social and cultural
anthropology
Prehistoric archaeology
Folklore
Manners and customs
Sociology
Sexual life. Women.
Natural history. Biology. Genetics
Human anatomy
Physiology
Medical anthropology. Epidemiology
CC 1-960
Pattee Library, BA
E 51-143
Pattee Library, 1
F 1-975
F 1201-3799
Pattee Library, 1
Pattee Library, 1
GF 1-900
Paterno Library, 3
GN 1-890
GN 49-298
Paterno Library, 3
Paterno Library, 3
GN 301-674
Paterno Library, 3
GN 700-890
GR
GT
HM
HQ
QH
QM
QP
RA
Paterno Library, 3
Pattee Library, 1A
Pattee Library, 1A
Paterno Library, 2
Paterno Library, 2
Paterno Library, 4
Paterno Library, 4
Paterno Library, 4
Paterno Library, 4
Materials Collected
A. Languages Collected. Emphasis is placed on English language materials, with a small
proportion of titles purchased in Spanish, German and French.
B. Geographical Limits. The department has a focus on the Americas, and the collection
reflects this emphasis. No region or country is excluded, though some are emphasized
more than others.
C. Chronological Limits. The collection is developed across all time periods. An emphasis
is placed on current research.
D. Major Publishers
 University Presses (e.g., Harvard University and Oxford University Presses)
 Association publications (e.g., American Anthropological Association and
Archaeological Institute of America)
 Oxbow Books
 Sage Publications
E. Reference Works. Collect encyclopedias, handbooks and biographical works. Current
policy is to acquire reference sources, including indexes, in electronic format when
applicable.
F. Periodicals. Includes scholarly journals from university presses, commercial presses,
and professional associations at the state, regional, national, and international level. A
majority of the journals are now accessible online.
G Video/DVD collections. Videos are important to anthropology and archaeology
researchers. Anthropological films and videos offer researchers an opportunity to
"experience" another culture. Fieldworkers have used visual methods for years to
record how other cultures operate. Documentaries and films are frequently
used/shown in the classroom.
H. Generally Excluded
 Textbooks
 Reprints of articles or other materials, especially if contained in journals owned
 Popular works (autobiographies of journalists, for example)
 Dissertations
 Juvenile materials
I. Areas of Focus/Strength
 Archaeology
 Biological Anthropology
 Cultural Anthropology related to Indians of the Americas
 Demography
 GIS
J. Electronic Resources
Core Resources
 Anthropology PLUS
 AnthroSource
 HRAF (Human Relations Area Files)
 Biological Abstracts
 Sociological Abstracts
 JSTOR
COORDINATING AND COOPERATIVE EFFORTS
I. Related Funds:





Area
Biology
Geography
Global
History




Latin American Studies
Sociology
Political Science
Women’s Studies
II. Data/Statistical Collections. Collection and analysis of data are important skills for
researchers in anthropology. Researchers use ethnographic and other social science data
in archives such as ICPSR.
IV. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
The Anthropology subject specialist and selector collaborates and communicates with other
appropriate Libraries faculty and Anthropology faculty to assure that the most current,
appropriate, and necessary materials are purchased.
Sources that are consulted for collection development include: Library Journal, Booklist and
Anthropology News. Online bookstores, such as Amazon.com, and important anthropology
library catalogs, such as Tozzer Library, are searched periodically for new acquisitions.
Faculty members provide frequent input for new titles. Continuous assessment of the print
and electronic collections is important to assure that the collections are meeting the needs
of all researchers, faculty, and students. This is done regularly, as time permits.
Campus Locations. The Abington campus offers a minor in Anthropology. Many campuses
offer courses in Anthropology. Some duplication of key resources will be necessary to
serve these classes.