V. Overview of the Library Collection
V. Overview of the Library Collection
The Center of Inner Cities Studies Library collects resources on African Americans and Africans in the U.S. and abroad. Significant collecting is done in the area of ethnic populations within the urban environment. It also supports the general education program as it is offered within the Center for Inner City Studies (CICS). The Center of Inner City Studies Librarian selects and manages the collection of this branch library, located at 700 Oakwood.
The Circulating Collection contains materials which can be borrowed. Bibliographers are assigned a subject area from the Library of Congress Classification System. They select materials in all formats and manage the collection based on available funds and facilities. Since the University was first established as a teacher's college, education remains a strength of the collection.
The Curriculum Materials Collection collects ERIC documents from 1966 to present, current elementary and secondary level textbooks, teacher resource and reference materials, audiovisual materials, computer software, a demonstration children's collection, curriculum guides, and uncataloged picture and pamphlet files. The Education Librarian is responsible for selecting materials for this collection and follows established selection and management criteria.
Access to Electronic Resources is available at the Library's HomePage. The home page provides access to a growing number of electronic resources available through direct subscription or through consortial projects with the other libraries in the state, and to selected open web sites that bibliographers have identified. Access to electronic resources provides access for our students who find it more convenient to do research from locations outside the library building. Bibliographers continue to be challenged to balance electronic resources with print resources in the most advantageous combination.
The Government Information Center collects federal and Illinois state government products, both print and electronic, dating from the mid-1960's to the present. The Periodicals/ Government Information Center Reference Desk provides assistance in accessing them. The Government Documents Librarian has established selection and management criteria for available materials. A collection development policy is included in Appendix 2.
The Illinois Regional Archives Depository collects primary source documents on Chicago municipal government and genealogical information for Cook County, primarily in the 19th Century. The Illinois State Archives established this depository and makes decisions concerning its acquisitions.
The Multimedia Learning Resource Center (MLRC) houses multimedia of a variety of types, including audio CD's, cassettes and phonograph records, videotapes, CD-ROM multimedia programs, standardized educational and psychological tests, and special collections of music scores. Equipment to use all these formats is also available. All bibliographers will select materials for their assigned subject areas for placement in the MLRC. A MLRC Services and Use document is included in Appendix 3.
The Periodicals Collection contains journals, magazines, newspapers, indexes and abstracts in a variety of physical formats. The Periodicals/Government Information Center Reference Desk provides assistance in accessing them. Bibliographers are assigned subject areas based on the Library of Congress Classification System, and they select periodicals in all formats and manage the collection based on available funds and facilities.
The Reference Collection contains current encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, and bibliographies. Reference librarians select materials to be included in the collection and provide instruction to access online databases.
Special Collections houses materials which are rare or which are considered in need of special preservation conditions. While the Library does not actively seek to develop a rare book collection, bibliographers may recommend that materials be housed in this collection.
The University Archives collects materials, print or
non-print, which directly document the functions and activities
of Northeastern Illinois University, and its administrators, faculty,
staff, and students. Staff provide assistance accessing the records
and have established selection criteria for appropriate records
for inclusion. A collection development policy is included in
Appendix 4.
Go to Section VI - Library Materials Budget Distribution
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