The Libraries seek to support research in all fields of sociology, including the history of sociology. The collection supports the needs of undergraduate, MA/MS students, Ph.D. students, the teaching faculty, post-docs, and research staff members.

Areas of established specialization are comparative sociology, political sociology, social change, sociology of culture, sociology of science, social stratification, structural sociology and urban sociology.

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

1. Formats collected: We collect annuals, monographs, scholarly series and reference tools extensively, and periodicals, CD-ROMs, and other electronic tools selectively. Audio-visual materials are collected very selectively. Textbooks and dissertations (other than Columbia dissertations) are excluded.
2. Imprint Dates Collected: We collect current publications extensively and earlier century materials selectively.
3. Chronological Focus: We collect current themes extensively. All other periods are collected selectively.
4. Languages Collected: We collect primarily English language materials and Western European language materials selectively. (See also the Global Studies statement.)
5. Place of Publication: We collect North American materials extensively and Western European publications selectively.