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Collection Policy Statement Index
(Classes QH, QK, QL, QM, QP, and QR and selected portions of class Z)
Contents:
I. Scope
II. Research strengths
III. General policy and collecting intensity
I. Scope
This chapter of the Collections Policy Statement on Science and Technology covers the subclasses QH (Natural history, general; Microscopy; and Biology, general), QK (Botany), QL (Zoology), QM (Human anatomy), QP (Physiology), and QR (Microbiology) and applicable subclasses of Class Z. Although the Library holds large numbers of nineteenth and early twentieth century medical works, it has deferred to the National Library of Medicine for the acquisition of clinical medicine since the early 1950s. For the same period, the Library has also deferred acquisition of technical agriculture and veterinary medicine to the National Agricultural Library.
II. Research strengths
- General
The Library's collections in the life sciences exhibit the breadth and depth of coverage characteristic of the Library's scientific collections in general. The collections number well over half a million titles and are among the largest in the country. Materials in botany, biology, and zoology - the backbone of the life sciences collections - number over 130,000 titles. These are supplemented by even larger collections in medicine and agriculture, and materials on anatomy, physiology, and bacteriology. Publications in the life sciences issued by learned societies, research institutes and major universities - both foreign and domestic - are well represented. This is especially true of the publications issued in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries where the Library has long, unbroken runs of monographic series and journals. Holdings for the latter half of the twentieth century are less complete.
Biology is an extremely diverse and varied discipline and is represented in the Library's collections by substantial bodies of literature on molecular, systematic, and evolutionary biology, population genetics, natural history, ecology, animal behavior, and microbiology. The Library's collections in the various aspects of botany - the morphology, physiology, and evolution of plants - are especially substantial. Its collections in zoology covering taxonomy, anatomy, physiology, ethology, and evolution likewise offer very rich resources for researchers. Materials on invertebrate and vertebrate zoology - including the human species - are strong and cover all aspects of these subjects, from conception and development to death and dying.
The materials relating to agricultural innovation, dryland agriculture, soil erosion, agricultural economics, and the diseases affecting plants, animals, and the human species (emphasizing the social, economic, and political, rather than the technical and clinical aspects of these fields) are very extensive. Materials on technical agriculture and clinical medicine, although excluded by policy except on a narrowly selective basis - mainly to provide immediate reference support - further complement the life sciences component of the collections. For relevant collections policies, see Medicineand Agriculture.
- Areas of distinction
The Library's collections of materials chronicling the botanical discovery of North America are particularly strong. The history of plant exploration and taxonomic botany has been captured in the scientific tracts of the great exploring expeditions and the transactions of botanical societies, lyceums, and herbariums and are highlighted in color-plate volumes by such artists as Isaac Sprague, Titian Ramsay Peale, and Pierre Joseph Redouté. Discovering, naming, and learning the uses of the flora and fauna of America sparked an interest in economic botany that is reflected in the collections by an abundance of material on plant utilization in commerce and industry, biotechnology, genetic engineering, and ethnobotany. The Library's collections on herbals, food plants, and medicinal plants are described in some length in Leonard Bruno's The Tradition of Science: Landmarks of Western Science in the Collections of the Library of Congress (Washington, 1987) and in James Reveal's Gentle Conquest: the Botanical Discovery of North America with Illustrations from the Library of Congress (Washington, Starwood Pub., c1992).
The Library's collections on the history of agriculture and the natural sciences in eighteenth and nineteenth century America are also noteworthy. A wealth of source material is provided for scholars in the Library's extensive holdings of the proceedings of state academies of science; the transactions of scientific and learned societies; the accounts and discoveries of naturalists on expeditions sponsored by natural history museums, zoological societies, and government survey teams; and the rich collections of correspondence, reminiscences, and biographical material from those periods. Especially important for the early history of medicine are the collections of the nineteenth-century physician Joseph Toner. In addition to his own correspondence, Dr. Toner collected a large number of letters of doctors and prepared many bibliographic and biographical studies in manuscript form. The Library's psychoanalytic collections, which include the papers of Sigmund Freud and those of most of his European and American disciples, are among the finest in the world. Among the Library's holdings of the manuscript collections of botanists, biologists, zoologists, and those working in the life sciences - including agriculture and medicine - are the papers of E. O. Wilson, Gregory Pincus, Jacques Loeb, T. Swann Harding, William C. Gorgas, Luther Burbank, William T. Hornaday, Gifford Pinchot, and C. Hart Merriam.
III. General policy and collecting intensity levels for life sciences (Classes QH, QK, QL, QM, QP, and QR)
The Library collects in this subject area at the Instructional Support Level (intensity level 3) or the Research Level (intensity level 4) as defined by the Conspectus of the Research Libraries Group (RLG). A few classes (QK715.5, QL51-58 and QM602) are collected at the Basic Information Level (intensity level 2). For a complete definition of these levels, see the General Introduction to these statements. The following list is arranged according to the major subclasses of Classes QH, QK, QL, QM, QP, and QR of the Library of Congress classification. The collecting intensity levels are numbered to conform with the RLG Conspectus.
Natural history (General); Microbiology; and Biology (General)
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QH1-QH7 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QH11 | Voyages and expeditions | 4 | |
| QH13 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 4 | |
| QH15-QH31 | History and biography | 4 | |
| QH41 | Pre-Linnaean works (through 1735) | 3 | |
| QH43-QH44 | Works by and about Linnaeus | 4 | |
| QH45-QC45.5 | General works, treatises, advanced textbooks, and popular works | 4 | |
| QH46 | Pictorial works and atlases | 4 | |
| QH51-QH58 | Study and teaching. Research. Nature study | 3 | |
| QH70 | Museums. Exhibitions | 3 | |
| QH75-QH77 | Nature conservation. Landscape protection | 4 | |
| QH83 | Classification, Nomenclature, terminology, etc. | 4 | |
| QH84-QH198 | Geographical distribution | 4 | |
| Z7401-Z7409 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
Microscopy
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QH201 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QH203 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 4 | |
| QH204-QH205.2 | History | 4 | |
| QH211-QH219 | MicroScopes, accessories, catalogs of apparatus and supplies | 4 | |
| QH221 | Chemical microscopy | 3 | |
| QH231-QH239 | Preparation and mounting of specimens | 3 | |
| QH251 | Photomicrography | 3 | |
| QH271-QH273.2 | Microscopic observations (general) | ||
| Z6704-Z6706 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
Biology (general)
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QH301 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QH302.5 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 4 | |
| QH305 | History and conditions | 4 | |
| QH308 | Textbooks | 3 | Primarily U.S. college level |
| QH315-QH320 | Study and teaching. Research | 3 | No single examinations, laboratory manuals or course syllabi |
| QH321-QH323.2 | Biological laboratories and stations | 3 | |
| QH324 | Methods of research, technique | 4 | |
| QH325 | Origin and beginnings of life | 4 | |
| QH327-QH328 | Space biology | 3 | |
| QH331 | Philosophy of biology | 4 | |
| QH332 | Bioethics | 4 | |
| QH333 | Social aspects of biology | 4 | |
| QH341 | Nature of life, vital force, etc. | 4 | |
| QH343.7 | Biogeochemistry | 4 | |
| QH344 | Biogeochemical cycles | 4 | |
| QH345 | General biochemistry of plants and animals | 4 | |
| QH351 | Morphology | 3 | |
| QH352 | Population biology | 4 | |
| QH359-QH425 | Evolution | 4 | |
| QH380 | Speciation | 4 | |
| QH401-QH411 | Variation | 4 | Experimental study 3 |
| QH421-QH425 | Hybridization | 3 | |
| QH426-QH470531 | Genetics | 4 | Study and teaching, research, modern hybridization, bioenergetics 3 |
| QH471-QH499 | Reproduction. Regeneration | 4 | |
| QH501-QH530 | Life | 4 | |
| QH540-QH549 | Ecology | 4 | |
| QH573-QH671 | Cytology | 4 | Study and teaching, research, methods, cell culture 3 |
| QH705 | Economic biology | 4 | |
| Z5320-Z5349 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
Botany
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QK1 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QK7-QK9 | Encyclopedias and dictionaries | 4 | |
| QK15-QK31 | History. Biography | 4 | |
| QK47 | Textbooks | 3 | Primary U.S. college-level |
| QK51-GK57 | Study and teaching. Research | 3 | No single examinations, laboratory manuals or course syllabi |
| QK71-QK79 | Botanical gardens, herbaria, laboratories, museums | 3 | |
| QK83-QK85 | Plant lore, floral emblems | 4 | |
| QK86 | Plant conservation, rare plants | 4 | |
| QK91-QK97 | Classification | 4 | Systematics and taxonomy, illustrations 3 |
| QK101-QK105 | Geographical distribution, phytogeography | 4 | |
| QK108-QK474.5 | By topographical division | 4 | |
| QK474.8-QK495 | Botany of seed plants | 4 | |
| QK504-QK635 | Botany of spore plants | 3 | General works on fungi (cryptogams), works on edible and poisonous fungi 4 |
| QK640-QK673 | Plant anatomy | 4 | General works |
| QK710-QK899 | Plant physiology | 3 | |
| QK715.5 | Phytotrons and growth chambers | 2 | |
| QK725 | Cytology (plant cell and tissues) | 4 | |
| QK731-QK745 | Plant growth and hormones | 4 | |
| QK861-QK899 | Phytochemistry | 4 | General works, photosynthesis, plant constituents 4, miscellaneous products 2 |
| QK900-QK977 | Plant ecology | 4 | |
| QK930-QK938 | By physiographic regions (water, land, swamps, etc.) | 4 | |
| QK940-QK977 | By topographic divisions | 4 | |
| QK980-QK989 | Evolution of plants | 4 | |
| Z5351-Z5358 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
Zoology
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QL1 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QL5 | Voyages and expeditions | 4 | |
| QL7-QL9 | Encyclopedias and dictionaries | 4 | |
| QL15-QL31 | History and biography | 4 | |
| QL41-QL45.2 | General works and treatises | 4 | |
| QL47-QL48.2 | Textbooks | 3 | Primarily U.S. college-level |
| QL51-QL58 | Study and teaching. Research | 2 | No single examinations, laboratory manuals, or course syllabi |
| QL61-QL67 | Collecting and preservation | 3 | |
| QL69-QL76.5 | Laboratories, institutes, museums, menageries, zoological gardens | 3 | |
| QL78-QL79 | Aquariums | 3 | |
| QL81-QL84 | Wildlife conservation | 4 | |
| QL101-QL345 | Geographical distribution | 4 | |
| QL110-QL149 | By physiographic division (soil, land, water, etc.) | 4 | |
| QL150-QL345 | By topographic divisions | 4 | |
| QL360-QL599.82 | Invertebrates | 3 | Protozoans, coelenterates, worms, mollusks, arthropods, crustaceans, arachnids 4 |
| QL461-QL599.82 | Insects | 4 | Miscellany and curiosa 3 Grasshoppers, bugs, flies, butterflies, ants, bees, wasps and beetles |
| QL578-QL592 | By geographic region | 4 | |
| QL593-QL599.82 | By order | 4 | |
| QL605-QL739.8 | Chordates, vertebrates | 4 | Catalogs and collections 3 |
| QL614-QL639.8 | Fishes | 4 | |
| QL640-QL669.3 | Reptiles and amphibians | 3 | Snakes 4 |
| QL671-QL699 | Birds | 4 | |
| QL700-QL739.8 | Mammals | 4 | |
| QL750-QL795 | Animal behavior | 4 | |
| QL799 | Morphology | 3 | |
| QL801-QL950.9 | Anatomy | 3 | |
| QL951-QL991 | Embryology | 4 | |
| Z7991-Z7999 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
Human anatomy
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QM1 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 3 | |
| QM7 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 4 | |
| QM11-QM16 | History and biography | 3 | |
| QM30-QM33.3 | Study and teaching. Research | 3 | No laboratory manuals |
| QM33.4-QM577.8 | Dissection, laboratories, museums, musculoskeletal system, vascular system, organs, glands, nervous system, integument, sense organs, regional anatomy, human and comparative histology | 3 | Comprehensive collection in the National Library of Medicine |
| QM601-QM695 | Human embryology | 3 | No overall conspectus on History of Embryology (QM611), 4 |
| QM602 | Pictorial works and atlases | 2 | |
| QM690-QM695 | Teratology (study of malformations) | 3 | |
| Z6662-Z6663 | Bibliography (anatomy and physiology) | 4 |
Physiology
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QP1 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 3 | |
| QP11 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 3 | |
| QP29 | Early works through 1800 | 3 | Facsimiles only |
| QP33 | Comparative physiology | 3 | |
| QP34-QP38 | Human physiology (includes general works on human biology) | 4 | |
| QP39-QP47 | Study and teaching. Research | 3 | |
| QP81-QP87 | Phenomena of animal life (influence of the environment, changes during life, death) | 4 | |
| QP88 | Physiology of tissues | 3 | |
| QP89-QP90 | Transplantation and rejuvenation | 4 | |
| QP91-QP99.5 | Blood | 3 | |
| QP101-QP110 | Cardiovascular system, circulation | 3 | |
| QP111-QP114 | Heart | 3 | |
| QP135 | Animal heat, body temperature | 4 | |
| QP141-QP185.3 | Nutrition, the digestive tract | 4 | Liver, gallbladder |
| QP186-QP246.5 | Glands | 3 | |
| QP190-QP246.5 | Secretions | 3 | Venoms 4 |
| QP247-QP285 | Urinary and reproductive organs | 3 | Female reproductive organs 4 |
| QP301-QP336 | Musculoskeletal systems; movements | 4 | |
| QP351-QP495 | Neurophysiology and neuropsychology | 4 | Early works through 1800 (facsimiles only ) 3 |
| QP501-QP801 | Animal biochemistry | 4 | |
| Z6662-Z6663 | Bibliography (anatomy and physiology) | 4 |
Microbiology
| Class | Subject | Intensity | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR1 | Periodicals, societies, congresses, serial collections, yearbooks | 4 | |
| QR9 | Dictionaries and encyclopedias | 4 | |
| QR12 | Classification, nomenclature | 4 | |
| QR21-QR31 | History and biography | 4 | |
| QR41 | General works, treatises, textbooks | 3 | Primarily U.S. college-level textbooks |
| QR46-QR53 | By discipline (medical microbiology, dental microbiology, etc.) | 4 | |
| QR54 | Pictorial works and atlases | 3 | |
| QR61-QR63 | Study and teaching. Research | 3 | No single examinations, laboratory manuals, or course syllabi |
| QR64 | Laboratories | 3 | Safety 4 |
| QR65-QR71 | Technique and equipment | 4 | |
| QR73 | Diversity and variation | 4 | |
| QR75-QR99.5 | Bacteria | 4 | Morphology, photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, chemical communication, environmental factors, antibiotics and resistance, 3 |
| QR100-QR130 | Microbial ecology | 3 | |
| QR151 | Micro-organisms of fermentation | 4 | |
| QR160 | Micro-organisms of cellulose and other plant products | 4 | |
| QR171 | Micro-organisms in the animal body | 3 | |
| QR175 | Virulence, pathogenicity | 3 | |
| QR177 | Drug resistance | 4 | |
| QR180-QR189.5 | Immunology | 4 | |
| QR201 | Pathogenic micro-organisms | 4 | |
| QR245-QR248 | Pathogenic fungi | 3 | |
| QR251-QR255 | Pathogenic protozoa | 3 | |
| QR301-QR330 | Micro-organisms of animals | 3 | |
| QR351 | Micro-organisms of plants | 3 | |
| QR352 | Mycoplasmas | 3 | |
| QR353 | Rickettsias | 3 | |
| QR355-QR502 | Virology | 3 | |
| Z5180-Z5185 | Bibliography | 4 | General and special topics |
