African-American Studies

A. Purpose and Program Description

The Libraries seek to support research in the African-American experience, from the vantage of both the humanities and the social science disciplines. It supports the needs of undergraduate, MA/MS and Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, post-docs, and researchers.

During the first half of the 1990’s, the establishment of the Institute for Research in African-American studies and the appointment of Professor Manning Marable in 1993 as its director underscores the University’s commitment to this field.

Areas of established specialization: Courses (both undergraduate and graduate) dealing with the African-American experience are currently being offered in the English and Comparative Literature, History, Political Science, Religion, Music, Anthropology and Sociology departments.

Overall, the Libraries’ existing collection and current acquisitions commitment, based upon available resources, for African-American Studies are at the study and teaching level. Its collecting goal, however, is at the research level.

B. General Selection Guidelines (see classed analysis for detailed statement)

  1. Formats collected: We collect monographs extensively; annuals, reference tools, series, periodicals, CD-Roms and other electronic tools, and newspapers selectively. Dissertations are excluded and audio/visual materials are available on special request only. An extensive African-American Studies Internet Resources home page is actively maintained.
  2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and earlier centuries selectively.
  3. Chronological Focus: All periods since Colonial times.
  4. Languages Collected: We collect English language materials extensively, and all other languages very selectively.
  5. Place of Publication: We collect North American imprints extensively, and non-North American imprints very selectively.