Michigan State University

Collection Development Policy Statement: Biological Sciences/Natural History

Relationship With Other Resources

On campus branch or format collections

Special Collections in the Main Library houses older and more valuable biological resources.

The art library contains some materials related to science topics, such as wildlife photography and scientific illustration

There is significant overlap in interests and topics withe the Map Library, especially as it relates to GPS. Historical and natural resource maps in particular are an important component of our collections

Regional or network resources

Libraries at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University both have strong biological collections, with the U. of Michigan having the larger collection. Other strong collections in the region include those at Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and University of Wisconsin. In addition, the Big Ten Academic Alliance has strong collections in the biological sciences, including OA resources. We depend heavily on these resources.

Relationships to resources treated in other policy statements:

  • Mathematics: Including mathematical models, statistics, and computational biology
  • Animal Sciences policy covers animals and insects that are used/domesticated by humans – including the call numbers below:
    • SF 518: Insect Rearing
    • SF 521-539: Bee Culture
    • SF 541-560: Sericulture, Silk Culture
    • SF 561: Lac-Insects
  • Plant Sciences.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of biological research today, many biological materials may fall under more than one collection policy. Other collection development policies that cover some of the biological sciences and overlap somewhat with this policy include:

  • Biological Sciences/Natural History: zoology, entomology, ecology, systems biology
  • Human Medicine: clinical medical research and textbooks
  • Veterinary Medicine: clinical veterinary research and textbooks
  • Chemistry: chemistry as it relates to biological subjects
  • Botany: plant biology in all areas, particular that is not molecular, genetic, biochemical, or physiological in nature
  • Agriculture: applied areas of biology related to agricultural research
  • Animal Science: applied areas of biology related to food animal agriculture and breeding

In addition, with an increase in collecting of non-English languages, more collaboration will need to occur with Area Studies librarians to accurately evaluate content and coverage. This conversations will be ongoing and will continue to evolve.