Subject Policy Statement - HISTORY
A. Purpose and Program Description
The Libraries seeks to support research and teaching in all aspects of the history of the modern world, with special emphases on China (including Hong Kong), East Asia, Western Europe and North America. Programs and courses include undergraduate and postgraduate (by research) courses up to Ph.D. in Chinese, Hong Kong, Japanese, European and American history, the world at war, cultural history and the theory and practice of history.
Research focuses on political, cultural and social history of modern China, Hong Kong and the surrounding region, Europe and America, religious and missionary history, early history of HKU, urban history and the history of young people in modern Europe, 20th-century U.S. diplomacy and foreign policy, World War II, historical biography, Sino-British, Sino-American and Sino-Japanese relations, historical demography and gender and history.
Areas of established specialization are the classic works of the history of China (including Hong Kong), East and South-east Asia, Europe and the U.S.
The Collection supports the needs of undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, and many visiting researchers.
B. General Selection Guidelines (See Classed Analysis)
Overall, the Libraries' existing collection and acquisitions commitment, based upon available resources, and its collection goal for History are all at the research level.
C. Specific Delimitations
- Formats collected: We collect monographs, annuals, reference tools and scholarly series extensively; periodicals, audio-visual materials, microforms, CD-ROMs and other electronic tools, and dissertations (other than HKU dissertations) selectively.
- Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and earlier publications selectively.
- Chronological Focus: We collect materials focusing on all chronological periods.
- Languages Collected: We collect English materials extensively and non-English language materials selectively.
- Place of Publication: We collect materials published in the United States and t he United Kingdom extensively, and materials published elsewhere selectively.