Government Collection Policy

OVERVIEW

subject description and guidelines

  • The Government collections in Olin Library support study and research in Political Theory, Methodology, Comparative Government, International Relations (including Peace Studies), and American Government and policy. Materials in Public Administration are acquired selectively.

constituencies

  • Cornell faculty and students, primarily from the College of Arts and Sciences, with use by social scientists in other campus departments and programs across campus.


COLLECTION SCOPE

collection strength

  • Olin’s holdings in government range from the theoretical to the applied. The historical collection is comprehensive. In recent years, as a result of a decreased materials budget overall, items are selected at the research level, and selectively (e.g., Public Administration) at the study level.

collection level

  • research 

geographical guidelines

  • The Olin government collections include materials on the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, international government organizations, and comparative studies across multiple nations. Government materials are also acquired in the Area Studies collections: African Studies, East Asian Studies, Japanese Studies, Latin American Studies, Middle East & Islamic Studies, Slavic & East European Studies, South Asian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies

areas of significant geographic coverage

country (self-governing)

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Ireland
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • United States of America

language guidelines

  • Primarily English, with some monographs and a number of scholarly journals in German, Italian and French.

language

  • English 

chronological guidelines

  • Modern period with an emphasis on current publications.

exclusions

  • Textbooks and dissertations

material types

  • Scholarly journals in print and, increasingly, online. A range of print publications from academic and trade presses, research institutes, private sector organizations, and public agencies.


COLLECTION CONTEXT

housed in

  • Olin Library 

related library subject collection


AFFILIATIONS

associated with organization

academic department

  • Government (GOVT) 

academic unit

  • Judith Reppy Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies 


RESPONSIBILITY

library contact

  • Thitchener, Lynn M. -  Reference & Instruction Librarian