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Collection Policy Statement Index

I. Introduction

This policy covers those countries commonly referred to as developing countries. Both the World Bank and the United Nations use various terminology to define a "developing" country and they periodically compile lists of such nations. For this policy the Library considers a developing country to be:

"A country in which large segments of the economy are still comparatively underdeveloped and the majority of the population is very poor....Although there are wide variations in these countries' GNP and per capita income, most developing countries have economies based on export of raw materials and their infrastructure (transportation, social services, educational systems, etc.) is inadequate for their needs."

Dictionary of Development: Third World Economy, Environment, Society.
Edited by Brian Welsh and Pavel Butorin. New York: Garland, 1990, pp. 309-310.

Not all materials acquired need be retained permanently in the Library's collections. It is important that a high degree of judgement be exercised in making selections for additions the collections, and that Acquisitions staff consult with the area and subject specialists concerning materials that might be considered out-of-scope.

II. Special Characteristics

Developing countries may be at differing states of economic and political development and this will be reflected in their publishing. Most share the following characteristics:

• Lack of a current national bibliography (if one exists at all).
• An unorganized book trade and inadequate book distribution channels.
• Lack of an organized system to publish and distribute official publications.
• Frequent changes in publishing patterns due to political, social, and economic conditions, and may include government censorship.
• Limited press runs and publications printed on poor-quality paper.

III. Coverage

The level of collecting for the subject or format as described in the appropriate Collections Policy Statement should normally be followed when collecting materials from developing countries. Normally this means collecting all important reference works, monographs and serials. However, in certain areas, either the areas of expanded coverage listed below or in the judgment of the Library's recommending officers, the Library should broadly interpret policies in order to insure appropriate coverage. Areas of expanded coverage include:

• Dissertations: The CPS for Dissertations and Theses states that "current foreign dissertations are acquired on a highly selective basis, with special consideration given to the fields of law, library science, music, and the history, government, and literature of the United States." Dissertations and theses from universities in developing countries, on subjects in which the Library collects comprehensively (level 5), should be acquired.
• Ephemera: The CPS for Ephemera calls for the Library "to obtain ephemera when such materials contain important information on current developments or provide a perspective on issues which are important...to Congress..(and) .researchers...and which may not be readily available through mainstream publishing." Much publishing in the developing countries might be considered to be ephemeral in nature but still should be acquired and retained beyond the constraints of the CPS on Ephemera .
• Literature: The CPS for Literature limits collecting to works by foreign authors "whose writings are generally regarded as having a high degree of literary significance." For developing countries the Library's collection should be more inclusive, including, in addition to works of well-known writers, works which reflect popular trends or contain features of special interest, works by or about special ethnic or social groups, or which present alternative viewpoints. The Library should overall collect at a level 3 in this area extensive collections of the works of better-known authors and selections from the works of lesser-known authors.
• Official Publications: The CPS for Government Publications Foreign lists the cities and regions for which the Library systematically acquires official publications. In addition, the Library should acquire official publications from developing countries documenting issues of interest to the U.S. Congress.
• Textbooks: The CPS for Education limits collecting of foreign textbooks as follows:
  • University-level: Acquired only when providing substantial information not readily available in other publications
  • High and elementary-level: Acquire only if serving as examples of ideological trends or new teaching methods
  For developing countries, a representative collection of textbooks should be acquired to document the education system and/or to document the manner in which a country presents its history.
• Politics: Many developing countries also have developing political systems. In order to document the fluid political activity, the Library may collect materials (including ephemera) to document political activity and viewpoints, including publications of political parties, trade organizations, special interest groups, and minority groups or parties. .

Revised June 2000

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