Michigan State University

Collection Development Policy Statement: Environmental Science

Purpose or Scope of Collection

A. Curricular, Research and Programmatic Needs

The collection supports the curricular and research needs of faculty with environmental science and policy interests, specifically faculty affiliated with the Environmental Science and Policy Program (ESPP) and the Water Science Network, and provides resources for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. ESPP is composed of over 160 faculty from 12 colleges across campus. Similarly, the Water Science Network has over 100 affiliated faculty members from 7 different colleges. Current faculty and graduate student research interests and applied experience in environmental science, policy, and water research cross a broad spectrum of disciplines and include agriculture, anthropology, engineering, geography, natural resources, political science, sociology, and zoology. This is reflected in the broad range of materials selected for the collection.

B. History of the Collection/Existing Strengths and Emphases

The environmental studies collection is highly interdisciplinary. In the past, all bibliographers were responsible for buying materials in this subject area (as it pertained to their disciplines). In the mid-1990's, it was felt that subject bibliographers were overlooking some areas relating to environmental studies. The EVP fund was set up to purchase materials on environmental topics across all disciplines with a particular focus on policy.

With the creation of the Environmental Sciences Librarian position in 2013 a new environmental science fund (ENV) was established to purchase materials on ecology and environmental science. In 2016 the ENV and EVP funds were merged into a single environmental fund.

Related Degrees, Specializations, and Programs

Michigan State University