University of Waterloo Library
The accompanying Collection Development Policy Statement is submitted by Jackie
Stapleton, Liaison Librarian for the Earth Sciences Department and is approved by the
undersigned.
[signed]
_________________________________
Assistant University Librarian
Information Resources
Susan Routliffe
[signed]
___________________________
Department Chair
Robert W. Gillham
[signed]
__________________________________
Liaison Librarian
Jackie Stapleton
[signed]
___________________________
Faculty Library Representative
Paul Karrow
UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY STATEMENT
EARTH SCIENCES - 2006
PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTION
The selection of library materials for Earth Sciences is the responsibility of the Liaison
Librarian, Jackie Stapleton, in consultation with the Faculty Library Representative, Paul
Karrow.
DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
The major areas are in hydrogeology, groundwater modelling and remediation, aqueous,
organic and isotope geochemistry, isotope hydrology, atmospheric science, economic
geology, mineralogy, petrology, structural geology, engineering geology, geophysics,
sedimentology and Quaternary geology.
Some of the Department of Earth Sciences research groups include:
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Waterloo Institute for Groundwater Research (WIGR)
Environmental Isotope Laboratory
Hydrogeology Geochemistry & Remediation
University Consortium Solvents-in-Groundwater Research Program
Canadian Network for Isotopes in Precipitation
Organic Geochemistry and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory
Atmospheric Science
SCOPE OF COVERAGE
Language
English language materials are preferred; however, major foreign language works may be
purchased as required to meet special needs.
Dates of Publication
Much of the earth sciences literature remains useful for teaching and research regardless
of its age. Even in subject areas where the material of interest in research is recent, some
materials needed for teaching encompass the whole history of the subject. While there
are no general chronological restrictions, emphasis is placed on materials published in the
last 25 years.
Geographical Areas
The following geographical areas are listed in order of priority:
North America
Europe
Arctic
South America
Oceans
Asia
Africa
Australia
Antarctica
TYPES AND FORMATS OF MATERIALS COLLECTED
In general, the Library does not acquire materials in a format for which access cannot be
provided in the Library.
Included
The following types of materials are generally included: Books, periodicals, reference
works, textbooks, symposia and conference proceedings, government publications,
reports, transactions, field trip guidebooks and other publications of societies,
associations and other non-governmental organizations.
Excluded
The following types/formats of materials are generally excluded: Films, videos, sound
recordings, theses, reprints, patents, standards, and computer software.
Maps and atlases are no longer held at the Davis Centre Library. These materials are
collected by the Manager, University Map Library and Branch Library Services and
housed in the University Map Library.
Levels of Collecting
0. Out of Scope
The library does not collect in this subject.
1. Minimal Information Level
The collection supports minimal inquiries about this subject with a limited selection of
monographs and reference works.
2. Basic Information 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.
3. Instructional Support Level
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study and master’s degree
programmes. 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.
4. Research Level
The collection includes major published source materials required for 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.
5. Comprehensive Level
The collection is exhaustive in its depth and scope. All relevant materials, in all formats
and applicable languages, are retained and preserved. The collection may be recognised
as a national resource.
All collections should be systematically reviewed for currency of information and to
ensure that essential and important resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles
containing outdated information should be withdrawn as necessary. Classic retrospective
materials should be retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
Subjects and Collecting Levels:
Climatology
3
Economic geology/geochemistry
Mineral deposits
4
4
Engineering geology
Geotechnique
Mine sites
4
4
4
Environmental geology
Geologic hazards
Volcanoes, earthquakes
Slopes
Karst
Floods
4
4
3
4
4
3
General geology
Marine geology
Volcanology
Structural geology and tectonics
Extraterrestrial geology
Historical geology
Geothermal energy
History of geology
4
4
2
4
3
4
3
3
Geochemistry
Biogeochemistry
4
4
Environmental geochemistry
Global change
Isotopes
Geochronology
4
4
4
3
Geology and health
3
Geomorphology
Geolimnology
Landform genesis and evolution
Paleolimnology
4
4
4
4
Geophysics
Geodesy
Environmental geophysics
Seismology
4
1
4
3
Hydrogeology
Physical
Chemical
Remediation
Modelling
4
4
4
4
4
Hydrology
Climate change
Groundwater-surface water interactions
Surface water
4
4
4
3
Mineralogy
Crystallography
3
2
Oceanography
2
Paleontology
3
Petrology
4
Quaternary studies
Neotectonics
Paleoecology
Stratigraphy
4
3
4
4
Remote sensing and photogeology
2
Sedimentology/stratigraphy
Petroleum geology
4
4
Soil science
3
OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The Library continues to explore various initiatives from a TriUniversity Group and
Ontario Council of University Libraries perspective.
Other Collections
The departments of Biology, Geography, Anthropology, Chemistry and Civil
Engineering also collect in areas of interest related to Earth Sciences. In particular,
Chemistry collects in the area of atmospheric sciences. The Earth Sciences collection
policy will expand to include this area when research becomes more prominent among
Earth Sciences faculty or undergraduate or graduate classes are taught in this field.
Date of creation: April 2006