Collection Development

Collection Development Banner Image

Collection Development

Subject Policy Statement - ENGLISH

 

A. Purpose and Program Description

The Libraries seeks to support research and teaching in all aspects of English language and linguistics and English and American literatures. Programs and courses include undergraduate and postgraduate (by coursework or research) courses up to Ph.D. in sociolinguistics, critical linguistics, discourse analysis, literary linguistics, creative writing, women's writing, postcolonial and world literature in English, literary, cultural and film studies, and critical theory. Research focuses on English literary and linguistic studies of all genres and literary movements, writing in English in other parts of the world, postcolonialism, postmodernism, gender studies, cross-cultural studies, film studies, critical theory, literature of travel, stylistics, discourse, interact ional sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and bilingualism, varieties of English around the world, sociolinguistics and critical discourse analysis.

Areas of established specialization are the classic works of British and American literature, English linguistics, critical theory and gender studies. Thorough coverage of the various aspects of the English language--its history, grammar, phonetics, morphology, syntax, rhetoric, style, composition, lexicography and philology--is maintained.

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 English are all at the research level.

 

C. Specific Delimitations

  1. Formats collected: We collect monographs, annuals, reference tools and scholarly series extensively; periodicals, audio-visual materials, CD-ROMs and other electronic tools, and dissertations (other than HKU dissertations) selectively.
  2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and earlier publications selectively.
  3. Chronological Focus: We collect materials focusing on all chronological periods up to the Renaissance.
  4. Languages Collected: We collect English materials extensively and non-English language materials selectively.
  5. Place of Publication: We collect materials published in the United States and The United Kingdom extensively, and materials published elsewhere selectively.