Washington University in St. Louis
Collection Development Policy
Library: Olin
Subject: Jewish & Near Eastern Studies
Collection: General
Date Revised: February 2014
Subject Librarian: Deborah Katz
1. General purpose:
The collection supports the research and teaching needs of its primary audience, faculty and students in Jewish Studies, as well as faculty and students in International Area Studies, Political Science, Religious Studies, and History. Each of the aforementioned entities shares joint faculty appointments with JINELC.
2. Subjects excluded:
None
3. Overlap with other collections or subjects:
There is overlap with any collection where a subject has a Jewish component. The Performing Arts librarian and the Art and Architecture librarians collect respectively in Jewish music and theater, and Jewish art. The Harris fund purchases many but not all materials in Holocaust studies. However, Jewish Studies funds purchase ninety percent of all materials regarding Jewish experience and intellectual expression.
4. Languages included and excluded:
Most works purchased for Jewish Studies are in English though there is a Hebrew language approval plan with Weinberg’s in Jerusalem. Primary faculty also request books in German, French, Aramaic, & Syriac.
5. Geographical limitations:
None
6. Chronological limits:
None
7. Retrospective acquisition:
In the 1970s a significant number of books were purchased to create a core collection in Yiddish and the Brisman collection of primarily older and some rare books was acquired in this decade as well.
8. Types of material collected and excluded:
9. Other factors to consider:
10. Subjects and Collecting Levels:
Research and Undergraduate level (defined by Choice Reviews)
