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Collection Policy Statement Index

Contents

I. Introduction
II. Ethnic publications - United States
A. General criteria
B. Materials to be collected comprehensively
C. Materials to be collected selectively
D. Sampling and exclusions
E. Exceptions
III. Ethnic publications - foreign
A. Publications to be acquired
B. Non-Book materials
C. Ephemera

I. Introduction

For the purpose of this statement, an ethnic group is considered to be a group of persons sharing a common race, national origin, language, ancestry, religion, or culture. These groups may include:

1. ethnic minorities of long standing maintaining a separate identity;
2. emigres established in a new country but still maintaining a separate identity;
3. recent political refugees;
4. temporary residents such as students and "guest workers."

This policy is intended to include library materials in any language or format. Ethnic publications from the United States and foreign countries are considered separately, as indicated below.

II. Ethnic publications - United States

The Library will acquire publications created by, for, or about any of the ethnic groups living in the United States, representing all areas of the world, and including Native Americans.

1. General criteria
   The Library of Congress endeavors to acquire for its permanent collections library materials which document the history, experiences, and contributions of each of the ethnic groups in the United States, from the earliest times to the present. Emphasis will be placed on materials of national, regional, or state-wide interest.
2. Materials to be collected comprehensively
   The following are acquired comprehensively, excluding publications of purely local significance covered in Sections C and D.
   1. directories, bibliographies, statistics, and genealogies
   2. works on ethnicity in general, immigration in all its aspects, citizenship, and related topics
   3. publications of ethnic organizations of national scope; ethnic newspapers, magazines and yearbooks of national circulation
   4. works on the history, economic and social status, traditional culture, influence on and contribution to U.S. society of the various ethnic groups.
3. Materials to be collected selectively
   The following are acquired selectively:
   1. publications relating to local groups, organizations or committees. Emphasis is placed on local materials which have regional, national, or international significance, for example, from localities having a heavy concentration of a given ethnic group;
   2. Non-book materials illustrative of the history, experience, and contributions of ethnic groups. The provisions of the Collections Policy Statements relating to each specific format are followed. Custodial divisions will be consulted in addition to area or subject specialists.
4. Sampling and exclusions
   Publications which are primarily local in Scope are limited to a highly selective sampling, since it is understood that extensive collections of such materials are the responsibilities of state and local institutions and ethnic organizations. Examples of local publications to be generally excluded are newsletters of social clubs, churches, temples, etc.; local history materials excluded by the Collections Policy Statement for Local History); and other serials and monographs addressed to a local audience.
5. Exceptions
   None of the foregoing will preclude the acquisition of materials for temporary use, for possible selection for the permanent collections, or for possible filming and cataloging as a collection.

III. Ethnic publications - foreign

Within the scope of the general definition set forth in the Introduction to this statement, ethnic publications may be acquired from all countries throughout the world. For closely related topics, see also the Collections Policy Statements for Publications of Developing Countries and Ephemera.

1. Publications to be acquired
   In acquiring substantial publications of research value, the provisions of all other relevant Collections Policy Statements apply. Special attention is paid to publications reflecting the political and economic status of the minority group and its relationship to the country as a whole.
2. Non-book materials
   Non-book materials illustrative of the history, experience, and contributions of ethnic groups in foreign countries are collected on a highly selective basis. The provisions of the Collections Policy Statements relating to the specific format are followed. Custodial divisions will be consulted in addition to area or subject specialists.
3. Ephemera
   Ephemera relating to groups 3 and 4 listed in Section I, Introduction may be acquired for temporary use or for possible filming as a collection, cf. Ephemera.

July 1989

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