Literature
(800)
Revised January 2003
General Comments
This collection provides access to works of literature and to works about
literature. Forms of literature represented include poetry, drama, fiction,
essays, speeches, letters, satire and humor, and miscellaneous writings.
Some emphasis is placed on literature for children, both actual works
of literature and works about children's literature.
Development Plan
High school and community college students place a particular demand
on this collection. Though not an academic library, CCPL provides coverage
of major writers (both texts and criticism) to meet the needs of students
at these levels of education. This decision is appropriate because coverage
of prominent writers is a routine expectation of many community library
users.
The collection emphasizes American and British literature in English.
Established bibliographies of important American and British writers (for
all forms of literature) are used to assess gaps in the collection (either
the omission of historical writers or of significant contemporary writers);
the collection is intended to support lower division college English courses.
Both text and criticism sources are developed. Anthologies play an important
role in covering writers and regions of lesser interest. Some development
is required in rhetoric of drama, of fiction, of essays, of letters, and
of satire and humor.
Non-English languages, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, and
classical languages receive less focus. Major writers in other languages
having international impact are not excluded unless specifically stated
in each policy. Established bibliographies of important German, French,
Italian, Spanish, classical Greek and Roman, and Russian writers are utilized
to assess gaps in the collection, concentrating only on major authors
of the past.
- 800 Literature (belles-letters) and rhetoric. A collection
emphasizing rhetoric is maintained. Because writing is particularly
stressed, diverse representation of general writing sources, guides
for particular literary forms, and writing for publication is
maintained. Sources on the rhetoric of speech are developed and
maintained. Sources for literary appreciation are developed and
maintained. A well-represented quotations collection is maintained.
- 810 American literature in English. For all literary forms,
both works and criticism are important elements of this collection.
Both "serious" and popular literature sources are developed
and maintained. Diverse coverage of important American poets is maintained.
Contemporary poets (for whom history has not yet determined their ultimate
influence) are generally best represented in anthology sources. Coverage
is developed and maintained of prominent playwrights of the past and
of newer playwrights/plays that seem enduring. The fiction collection
is always double checked before ordering novels and short story collections.
A smaller collection of works by historical and contemporary essayists
is maintained. A small, mature rhetoric collection with mostly historical
and notable modern speeches is maintained. A collection of works by
prominent humorists of the past as well as contemporary humorists is
developed and maintained.
- 820 English and Old English (Anglo-Saxon literature). For all
literary forms, both works and criticism are important elements of this
collection. Both "serious" and popular literature is developed
and maintained. A collection emphasizing British poetry, drama, and
fiction is maintained. Sources on British speeches and humor are not
developed. Diverse coverage of important British poets of proven reputation
is maintained (i.e., generally no purchase of contemporary poets). The
Shakespearean collection is developed and maintained with multiple copies
of plays and poems in support of high school and college curriculum;
also developed and maintained is a criticism collection in greater depth
than for other writers. A small collection of prominent plays of the
past is maintained with generally no development of contemporary plays.
The fiction collection is always double checked before ordering novels
and short story collections. A small collection of works by major historical
essayists is developed and maintained. Regarding the Old English collection,
only Beowulf is maintained in modern English versions.
- 830 Literature of Germanic (Teutonic) languages. A small collection
of works by major writers in translation is maintained.
- 840 Literature of Romance languages. A small collection of
works by major writers in translation is maintained.
- 850 Literature of Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic languages.
A small collection of works by major Italian writers of the past in
translation is maintained.
- 860 Literature of Spanish and Portuguese languages. A small
collection of works by major Spanish writers of the past in translation
is maintained.
- 870 Literature of Italic languages. A small collection of works
by major writers of the past in translation is maintained.
- 880 Literature of Hellenic languages. A comprehensive collection
of classical Greek plays in translation is developed and maintained.
- 890 Literature of other languages. A small collection of works
by major Russian writers in translation is maintained. Anthology coverage
of Asian and African writers is also developed and maintained.
Influencing Factors
Purchases and buying patterns are determined in large part by:
- availability of English translations.
- electronic/Internet sources availability.
- new works.
- budget constraints.
- circulation statistics.
- patron requests.
- present and potential relevance to the community.
- shelf space.
Retention/Weeding
- All basic works are retained, especially criticisms of works by classic
writers.
- Works of minor writers are discarded, unless there is an established
demand.
- Worn editions of classics or older titles still being read should
be replaced.
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