E-mail this pageForeign Languages and Literatures Collections Policies
Clientele:
The library collects material for the Foreign Languages and Literatures program in order to support curricular and research needs of the student body, and curricular needs of faculty.
The program consists of majors (B.A.) in French and Spanish, a B.S. in foreign languages for prospective teachers, and minors in French, German, and Spanish. Individualized courses or sequences are also offered in linguistics, Portuguese, and Luso-Brazilian studies. Courses in Russian, Chinese, and Latin are also offered occasionally, depending on resources and student demand. The department participates in the General Education Program, offering courses under the Foreign Language and Culture rubric. The department contributes to and supports Plattsburgh's programs in Canadian Studies, Latin American Studies and French-Canadian Studies.
About 9 faculty members are actively involved in the program. Related subject areas include area/country studies (political science); history; international business; education; hotel, restaurant and tourism management; Latin American Studies; and Canadian Studies.
Existing Collections:
Plattsburgh's foreign language and literature collection is strongest in French language and literature; basic study or instructional support of language and 19th/20th century literature; and literature of Quebec. Spanish is a second area of strength, although resources are more strained in this area due to the broader cultural focus (Latin America, Caribbean, Mexico). The area of classical Spanish literature has been strengthened by gifts in recent years, and the collection is relatively strong in coverage of pre 19th/20th century Spanish literature. Some modest collection (and gifts) has created a small Brazilian literature collection in support of Latin American Studies. Dates of publication in the collection are mostly current (within 10 years). Materials covering all periods have been collected, with emphasis on 19th/20th century, classics and established authors. The major geographical focus has been France, Spain and Germany, with a minor focus on Canada and Latin America.
Current Collecting:
Current collecting covers all periods and includes a modest amount of material in the original language in French and Spanish, and less in German. Efforts to strengthen the collection are focused on post-1961 materials in French and Spanish. We continue to collect materials on the 19th/20th centuries, classics and established authors. Latin American, Quebec and Caribbean literatures are growth areas. English language materials to support a contemporary civilization course are collected. An increase in collecting in modern contemporary Spanish language and literature is needed to adjust to curriculum changes. Although the focus of collection development is on literature, language, teaching, and general culture of France, Spain and Germany, some attention is also given to textbooks, grammars, and aids for improving language acquisition in French, Spanish, German and other languages (Russian, Japanese, Portuguese). Some attention is given to significant world literatures such as classical Greek, Roman, Russian, East European, South African, Indian, Japanese, etc.
Subjects Covered:
- LC classes PA through PT
Publisher Information:
Noted publishers include:
- University Presses (such as Yale, Columbia, Chicago, Ohio State, and Georgetown),
- Cassell,
- Hippocrene,
- McBraw-Hill,
- Van Nostrand.
Formats:
Materials in print, microform, and media formats are collected. Cloth is preferred over paper.
Notes:
CCD funds have had an indirect, but good impact - via Canadian Studies (for Quebec-related foreign language materials) and Latin American studies (literature in original language).