The Libraries seek to support research in all aspects of chemistry including organic, physical, analytical, inorganic, photochemistry, spectroscopy, polymers, colloids, surfaces, computational, biochemistry, chemical physics, and electrochemistry. It supports the needs of undergraduate and Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, post-docs, and research staff members.

New courses during the first half of the 1990’s include computational chemistry and work on designing molecules for drug delivery. New electronic techniques of teaching are being introduced for undergraduates, requiring new software and hardware.

Overall, the Libraries’ existing collection and current acquisitions commitment, based upon available resources, for Chemistry are at a very strong study and teaching level. (The Libraries’ existing collection for Organic Chemistry is at the research level.) Its collecting goal, however, is at the research level.

1. Formats collected: We collect reference tools and scholarly series extensively, annuals CD-Roms and other electronic tools, monographs, periodicals, textbooks and software selectively, and dissertations very selectively. Audio/visual materials, maps or newspapers relating to Chemistry are excluded.
2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and earlier twentieth century materials selectively. Older materials are excluded.
3. Chronological Focus: We collect materials focusing on current research topics extensively and earlier twentieth century topics selectively. Earlier research themes are excluded.
4. Languages Collected: We collect English language materials extensively and Russian, German, French, Japanese, and Chinese language materials selectively.
5. Place of Publication: We collect North American and Western European materials extensively and materials published in Japan, Germany and the former Soviet Union, India, and China selectively.