Emphasis is on current research, clinical practice, and trends in veterinary medicine. Here at Michigan State University those subjects include: General Internal Medicine, Diseases of Companion and Food Animals, Surgery, Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology/Pathobiology, and Ophthalmology.
Emphasis is on current research and trends in the animal science industry, especially in beef, sheep, swine, poultry, dairy, and horses. Additional subjects of focus at Michigan State University include animal behavior and welfare, animal reproduction, and animal husbandry and management.
The primary language of acquired materials is English. The collection contains a limited number of older materials in other languages, such as German and French. Almost every new book published each year in the English language by major veterinary and animal science publishers is purchased in print and electronic format whenever available.
The primary emphasis is on the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. International coverage is also highly desired; therefore, English-language publications may be purchased regardless of country or origin of geographic treatment.
Resources collected include: research and trade journals, textbooks, databases, encyclopedias, dictionaries, medical atlases, directories, drug guides, proceedings, government publications, bibliographies, veterinary board exam preparation study materials, and materials relating to United States-based certification, licensures, and specialized education/training. Also collected, although published less frequently than those in human medicine, are veterinary point-of-care tools and online video and image resources.
Emphasis is placed on electronic resources to support integration into the veterinary medicine and animal science curricular materials and research. Journals are collected only in electronic format when available. A robust print book collection is also maintained to support interlibrary loan and use by community patrons visiting MSU, because the MSU Library has the only professional veterinary collection in the state of Michigan.
Research data - particularly data that is not already openly available or that cannot/will not be placed in existing research data repositories - may be collected. For additional guidelines, please see MSU's Digital Research Data Collection Development Policy.
Image banks and streaming media may be purchased, if available, upon faculty request. Streaming media is given priority when it will be used in a classroom setting for educational purposes. Popular films and documentaries are acceptable genres if they fit a predetermined curricular need. Physical format AV materials are collected rarely.
Core veterinary medicine and animal science textbooks are collected in both print and electronic formats.
The following are usually not collected: theses (except for MSU theses), catalogs, programmed texts, ephemera, and self-published works. Laboratory manuals, spiral-bound works, and pocket-sized books are collected only under very limited circumstances.
Generally, materials published in the last five years are collected. Older material is considered for unusual or sparsely covered subjects, or in the case of replacements for missing items. Older material may also be added to complete a series of editions of an important title or to complete a journal run. Consideration is also given to collect older materials appropriate for the history of veterinary medicine collection, the Catalogue of Rare Veterinary Books and Allied Subjects in Animal Husbandry.
Materials are collected on human animal bond topics, including animal-assisted therapy, benefits of owning an animal, pet loss and grief, legal aspects, and service animals.
A historical apiculture collection, The Ray Stannard Baker Bee Collection, is housed in Murray and Hong Special Collections and contains early works on bees published before 1850 in English and other languages. Modern works on beekeeping are also collected.
MSU is the only veterinary school in the state, and clients of the veterinary hospital frequently visit the library looking for information about their pet’s health. A small number of materials on pet health written for consumers, not professionals, are collected to support this user group.
Educating competent and cultural proficient professionals, creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, and removing barriers to veterinary care are key areas of research and education in veterinary medicine. Collection decisions that place importance on who is producing the information, as well as who is being represented in the literature, are foundational to supporting the mission of the College. Diversity in collection development foci include, but is not limited to, the areas of the underrepresented: races, ethnicities, sexualities, ages, gender expressions and identities, cultural and religious identities, socioeconomic class, US geographical location, and nationalities. Special attention is paid to collect research from other countries, with emphasis on the Global South, on topics such as large animal medicine and herd health.
With the increase in electronic resources we recognize that not all formats and platforms are accessible to all users. We prioritize purchasing content on accessible platforms, and work with publishers to include licensing language that allows for quick remediation of electronic texts to support accommodations for disabilities. Please see the MSU Libraries Services for Patrons with Disabilities for more information.