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Collection Policy Statement Index

(Classes P-PZ and sections of Class Z)

Contents

I. Introduction
II. Scope
III. Research strengths
IV. Comparison with other major research collections
V. General policy
VI. Collection levels for literature and language

I. Introduction

This Collections Policy Statement refers to materials in the fields of literature and language. The field of literature includes works in the forms of fiction, poetry, drama, the general essay, oratory, and journalism, and the historical, theoretical, critical, and scholarly studies dealing with such works. The field of language includes general works on language as a phenomenon and works on particular languages, including dictionaries, grammars, rhetorics, and histories.

II. Scope

Literature and language are treated in Classes P through PZ of the Library of Congress classification system. The present statement deals with all of these classes except that part of class PZ which covers juvenile belles lettres, which is covered in the CPS for Children's Literature. In addition, works relevant to the study of literature and language are scattered throughout Class Z (bibliography), in the sections for national bibliography (e.g. Z1224-Z1232, American literature) subject bibliography (e.g. Z5781-Z5785, drama and theater; Z7001-Z7124, philology and linguistics), and personal bibliography, and in such other areas as Z124-Z228 (printing history). What this CPS says about areas of Classes P-PZ is to be understood as applying also to related areas of Class Z.

The following Collections Policy Statements also should be consulted as they may apply to literature and language:

• Children's Literature
• Comic Books
• Developing Countries (Section on Literature)
• Fantasy and Science Fiction
• Manuscripts
• Theater
• Translations

III. Research strengths

The Library's collections in literature and language are unrivaled for breadth and depth, both current and historical. The largest group of materials is in the general classified collections of books and periodicals, but many other areas of the Library hold important collections, including the Rare Book and Special Collections Division (first and early editions of major American and British authors; first editions of selected contemporary English-language authors; dime novels, small press books); the Manuscript Division (papers of many American authors; unpublished plays deposited for copyright since 1900); the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division (motion picture, television, and radio materials, the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature); the Microform Reading Room (early books and periodicals); and the area studies divisions.

IV. Comparison with other major research collections

Most major American research libraries have strong collections in literature and language, although none is as strong in so many areas as the Library of Congress. Many have great strength in specialized areas, some surpassing the Library of Congress. Examples of major collections at other libraries include Chinese language and literature (Yale and Harvard), theater and drama (New York Public Library, Brown University), popular literature (Bowling Green State University), Scandinavian language and literature (University of Minnesota), motion pictures (University of California at Los Angeles), science fiction (University of California at Riverside, University of Arizona, Eastern New Mexico University, Texas A&M University), and small press publications and little magazines (University of Wisconsin, State University of New York at Buffalo, University of California at San Diego). Many libraries actively collect manuscripts and related materials of authors form their state or region.

V. General Policy

1. Language
   The Library collects all important reference works, scholarly monographs and serials, bibliographies, and dictionaries. For most of the world's languages, grammar and textbooks are acquired very selectively, except for those titles published in the U.S., which are collected at the Research Level.
2. American Literature
   The Library collects comprehensively all works of American literature, by both established and new writers, which are regarded as having literary merit or as representing current trends in writing; anthologies and periodicals whose contents consist principally of such writings; new critical and authoritative collections of prominent authors' works; and historical, theoretical, critical, scholarly, and bibliographical studies of American literature. Works of American popular literature are collected, but vanity press and self-published works are not collected, although self-published works of quality may be collected in areas where self-publishing is an important part of the publishing spectrum (e.g., poetry, African American literature). This holds for materials in any language published or distributed in the U.S.
3. Foreign literature
   The Library collects literary works, by both established and new writers, which are regarded as having a high degree of literary merit or as representing important current trends in writing; authoritative or influential anthologies and periodicals whose contents consist principally of such writings; new critical and authoritative collections of prominent authors' works; and all important historical, theoretical, critical, scholarly, and bibliographical studies. Generally, vanity press and self-published works are not collected. The Library is less selective for works published in developing countries (see the CPS Developing Countries). Unless otherwise stated the Library collects non-English language and literature at the "Research Level" (level 4); popular literature at the "Instructional Level" (level 3) and textbooks and grammars at the "Basic Level" (level 2).
4. First Editions
   First editions, with dust jackets, of major American and British authors (belles lettres, poetry, drama), and a more selected list of Commonwealth authors, are acquired and retained in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
5. Mass-market Paperbacks
   Since 1978 the Library has retained (and kept, by genre) all mass-market paperbacks received through Copyright. The collection is in the custody of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division.
6. Lesser-Known Language Collection
   The Library collects a representative collection of works in unusual or endangered languages. In many instances there may be few printed works in the language and the works are kept as an example of the language. The collection is housed together, in alphabetical order by language. The Collections Management Division has custody of the collection (except for books in Asian languages which are in the Asian Division's custody). Books about such languages are collected at Level 4 and are part of the classified collection.

VI. Collection levels for literature and language

The following list indicates the collection intensity levels (0 thorough 5) to be followed in acquiring literature and language materials. For a complete definition of these levels, see "Collecting Levels." When two levels are listed, the first refers to materials relating to the U.S.; the second to materials having to do with all other areas.

1. Philology and linguistics
   The Library maintains a research-level collection (level 4) of current materials on all the major subdivisions of philology and linguistics, P98-P1091, in the Library of Congress Classification. This includes mass communications, language (general), and philology.
2. General literature

   Class	Subject	Collecting Levels
   PN1-PN1551	Serials; criticism; authorship; literary; history; poetry	5/4
   PN1560-PN3307	The performing arts; drama	5/4
   PN3311-PN5650	Prose; oratory; Journalism	5/4
   PN6010-PN6790	Collections of general literature	5/4

3. Classical languages and literatures
   The Library acquires current materials on the ancient Greek and Latin languages and literatures, including early Christian and medieval literature written in Greek and Latin, at the Research Level, including a research-level collection of materials on ancient Greek drama.
4. English language and literature in the English language
   

   Class	Subject	Collecting Levels
   PE	English language	4
   PS	American literature	5
   PR1-PR8469	English literature	4
   PR9180-PR9199.3	Canadian literature	4
   PR9210-PR9275	West Indian literature in English	4
   PR9340-PR9408	African literature in English	4
   PR9420-PR9570	Asian literature in English	4
   PR9600-PR9619.3	Australian literature	4
   PR9620-PR9639.2	New Zealand literature	4

5. Germanic languages and literatures
   The library collects materials in all Germanic languages and literature at the Research Level except for popular literature which is at Level 3 as noted in section V.C.
6. Celtic languages and literature
   The Library acquires reference works, the most important monographs, the works of prominent authors, and the major serials for the Celtic languages and literatures. These include the Irish, Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, Breton, and Gallic languages and literatures.
7. Romance languages and literatures
   The Library collects materials in all Romance languages and literature at the Research Level, except as noted in section V.C. and for the following:
   • Dalmatian languages and literatures - level 2
   • Romansch languages and literatures - level 3
   • Catalan languages and literatures - level 3
   • Galician languages and literatures - level 3
   • Cuban literature since the 1959 revolution - level 5
8. Slavic, Baltic and Albanian languages and literatures
   The Library collects materials in Slavic and related languages and literature at the Research Level except as noted in section V.C. and for the following:
   • Church Slavonic - level 3
   • Macedonian - level 2
   • Sorbian - level 3
9. Finno-Ugrian and Basque languages and literatures
   The Library seeks to maintain a research-level collection of current materials on the languages and literatures of Finland, Estonia, Sami, Hungary, and the Basque region except as noted in section V.C.
10. Near Eastern languages and literature
    The Library collects materials in Near Eastern languages and literature at the Research Level except as noted in section V.C.
11. East Asian languages and literatures
    The Library collects at a research-level current materials on the Asian languages and literatures except as noted in section V.C., with the following exceptions: although the Library acquires at the research level current materials on all of the Indonesian languages, it acquires at the Instructional Level materials on Karen, Siamese, Mon-Khmer, Munda, Dravidian, Kawi, and Javanese literatures. Nashi Language, Level 5.
12. African languages and literatures
    The Library collects materials on African languages, and literatures at the Research Level, except as noted in section V.C.
13. Oceania languages and literatures
    The Library collects materials in languages and literatures of Oceania at a Research Level, except as noted in section V.C. and with the following exceptions:
14. Mixed, artificial, and universal languages
    The Library collects materials on mixed languages such as Creole, Gullah, and Pidgin English, and artificial or universal languages such as Esperanto at a Research Level except as noted in section V.C.
15. Other languages
    The Library collects materials in any other language not specified above at a Level 3 except:
    • Native-American languages & Literature - level 5
    • Language of indigenous people in Canada, Mexico - level 4

June 2000

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