Subject Collection Development Guidelines

JMU Libraries supports James Madison University's Department of Justice Studies with a collection that facilitates instruction and research in the department’s undergraduate curriculum.  The undergraduate major includes three tracks:  A) Crime and Criminology; B) Global Justice and Policy; and C) Social Justice.  The department also offers a minor in Criminal Justice. The Crime and Criminology track has a more practical orientation, but all three are interdisciplinary in approach, and emphasize policy, theory, and ethics.  Justice Studies collections also support student research in General Education, particularly topics in criminology, conflict resolution, and social justice, as well as providing support for the library-wide mission of fostering environments that allow users to connect with ideas and information.

Collection Areas

Because of its interdisciplinary focus, research and teaching in Justice Studies covers a wide range of subject areas.  The current approval profile is limited to criminology, as no other curriculum focuses directly on this subject area.  Considerable subject coverage overlap exists between Political Science and the Global Justice and Policy and Social Justice areas.  Thus, Justice Studies relies heavily on Political Science collection development in the areas of public policy and international law.   A few additional topic areas, as noted below, such as peace studies, conflict management, international organizations, armed conflict, etc., are of particular interest to Justice Studies but may not be collected extensively by Political Science.

Guidelines

Materials are considered for their subject area, curriculum relevance, authoritativeness, currency, and price. User requests and appropriateness for the entire collection are also key criteria for consideration.

• Primary emphasis is on current materials.
• Print is the primary format for the general collection; electronic formats are favored for reference resources and periodical collections.  The liaison librarian will monitor developments in electronic publishing as well as the needs and preferences of departmental faculty and students to determine if/when monographs in electronic format(s) are viewed as more acceptable for the general collections. Other formats may be purchased selectively to support the curriculum.
• English-language materials are purchased almost exclusively.
• Materials are acquired primarily from U. S. publishers; also English language materials published by international organizations or agencies.

Responsibilities

The responsibility of acquiring and managing Justice Studies collections primarily resides with the subject/liaison librarian for that area. Liaison librarian is expected to keep apprised of developments in the department and the field, and to work with departmental faculty to meet her instructional, research, and resource needs. Collection management activities are monitored and administered by JMU Libraries' Collection Development Committee, with expenditures authorized by the Dean of Libraries.

Updated April 2, 2012 by Reba Leiding.