To support the research interests of the MSU Department of Political Science, James Madison College, and any other academic disciplines that track public policy issues. While the James Madison College is an undergraduate program, the Department of Political Science offers course work through the PhD level.
Materials are purchased across the political spectrum. These materials may be upsetting, but are integral to this field of study.
Library collections can be seen as an outgrowth of academic research and community. Historically and presently, academia does not have broad inclusive representation of diverse people and perspectives. This means that the opportunities for collection to advance DEI may be limited by the academic research community and what is published. However, effort will be made to collect content created by or about historically oppressed, underrepresented, and underserved communities. Examples of strategies for inclusion and broadening the collection include deliberately looking for scholars from underrepresented groups (often via disciplinary societies that focus on these communities) and verifying their books are purchased as well as looking at works from small presses or occasionally self-published works. Additionally, purchased electronic materials, such as ebooks and online journals, must meet University standards on accessibility.
