Michigan State University

Collection Development Policy Statement: Jewish Studies

Author: Deborah J. Margolis, last updated August 6, 2023

Purpose or Scope of Collection

A. Curricular/Research/Programmatic needs

The Jewish Studies collection supports the undergraduate courses that comprise the Jewish Studies minor offered in the College of Arts and Letters through the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel. Jewish Studies is highly interdisciplinary and the need for resources spans the social sciences and humanities.

B. History of the Collection

MSU's Jewish Studies Program was created 1992, and at that time Shari Buxbaum assumed selection responsibilities for Jewish Studies. Prior to 1992, materials on Jewish subjects were selected by various bibliographers according to the discipline (religion, history, women's studies, etc.).  In summer 2011, the Irwin T. and Shirley Holtzman Collection of Israeli Literature was donated to the MSU Libraries. Also of significance in the Murray Hong Special Collections are the Warren Chamberlain Samaritan Collection and the Arsenal collection of contemporary antisemitic materials. At present, the collection reflects the buying pattern of an average academic research library.

C. Library Goals

The Libraries strives to support the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel's efforts in educating about Jews and antisemitism through collections, programs and library instruction, exhibitions, and other means.