GENERAL STATEMENT

1. Description of Department Programs

The Department of Biology has 14 full-time teaching faculty and offers the B.A., B.S. and M.A. degrees. Most of the research laboratories are equipped for cell biology, molecular biology, developmental biology, and physiology research. Courses in anatomy, botany, ecology, zoology, and moral and ethical considerations of biological research are included to round out the biology curriculum. The Department's core curriculum has accorded the college a national reputation. Introduced in 1981, it consists of ten required courses that provide a common educational experience to students and lay the foundations for advanced study at the college. The core curriculum includes courses in the sciences, introducing every student to hands-on experience in laboratory study.

The Department has programs aimed specifically to improve science skills and science training among high school students by developing a multifaceted partnership with a local high school and an intermediate school; increase the number of undergraduates, especially under represented minorities and women, enrolled in biology and related sciences; and enrich the undergraduate experience by strengthening the curriculum, improving teaching skills, modernizing laboratories, and providing research experience for undergraduates and high school students. Research participation by undergraduates and high school students is a long-standing tradition in the Department of Biology.

Brooklyn College is a member of a 5-campus Doctoral Program consortium. The Biology Doctoral Program is divided into four subprograms: cell, molecular, and developmental biology; physiology and neuroscience; ecology and evolutionary biology; and plant science. Each of these subprograms except plant science is represented at Brooklyn College. Graduate students and faculty in Biology are well served by the extensive periodical and book resources that support their research areas.

2. Library Resources in Biological Sciences

The library collection focuses on the areas of concentration in cell, molecular, developmental and physiological biology. Resources are available in print and electronic formats with rapid growth of the electronic resources that permit access to the library collection from home or office. Library resources in Biology strive to meet the needs of all users with a wide range of books, periodicals, grey literature, and online resources to supplement their course work and keep undergraduates up to date with relevant information. These scholarly materials provide both research and popular information to meet requirements for term papers, theses and dissertations, oral presentations and current awareness.

The rapidly growing collection of resources in Biology, reflects the current knowledge and new advances and research initiatives in the four subprogram areas. The Human Genome project, innovations in DNA research, genetic diseases, biotechnology, genetic engineering and other enhancements to human knowledge, require that students and faculty have access to the newest information rapidly and easily. The online resources in particular have considerably increased the range of scholarly materials available to the faculty and doctoral students. Several science databases with a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of science, offer access to worldwide literature in the Biological Sciences with links to the full text of cited articles. Some focus exclusively on biological and medical sciences and others include biological topics that overlap with other areas of science. The addition of subscriptions to online periodicals from major publishers (e.g. Wiley, Academic Press, Elsevier, and others) have brought an expanded Biological world to all students and faculty via enhanced access to the knowledge base. As the online resources continue to expand, electronic books are entering the online world giving patrons the opportunity to read the text of a book from a computer terminals. Net Library, the e-books program at Brooklyn College, includes many titles in the biological sciences. Textbooks and general books in the biological sciences can be found on the Net Library and the number of titles is expected to increase in the future. The collection is strong in cell and molecular biology and natural sciences such as human and animal biology and conservation.

GENERAL APPROACH TO MATERIALS SELECTION

A. Acquisitions Strategy:

The Life Sciences Bibliographer is responsible for collection development in Biological Sciences to serve the Biology Department. The bibliographer is in contact with faculty throughout the year discussing new resources and requesting their input regarding the relevancy of the materials for the collections. The bibliographer regularly scans review publications, publishers catalogues, web sites, newspapers and other sources to find resources for the library collection. The bibliographer examines and assesses this material for relevancy, price, and anticipated use and makes a decision accordingly. Others come to the bibliographer's attention via interlibrary loan requests, and patron requests. Some classical or important works may not be purchased if funds are not available.

B. Level of Difficulty

Materials acquired for the library range from the general materials used by undergraduates to the more scholarly technical and research publications used by graduate students and faculty. In all cases, the works should be well written, accurate, and suitable for the academic environment.

C. Languages:

Materials are collected primarily in English. Resources in other languages may be acquired based upon the bibliographers assessment of need and anticipated use.

D. Geographic Areas:

Resources in biological sciences are produced worldwide in many countries. Geography is generally not a criterion for acquiring or rejecting a work. Nevertheless, a biological science resource devoted specifically to a particular region or country will be acquired if it is deemed relevant to the needs of BC students and faculty.

E. Current and Retrospective Purchases:

The large scale research in biological sciences brings new knowledge and new research findings to the science community on a regular basis. When new findings are released to the public, former knowledge and older beliefs are rendered obsolete. The key element in biological science is currency. With the exception of classical works that introduced major theories and practices that are now common knowledge, emphasis will be placed on acquisition of materials issued within the past five years.

F. Format of Materials Collected/Excluded:

The library collects primarily monographs, conference proceedings, and periodicals in both print and electronic format. Audiovisual materials related to Biology are acquired when requested by a faculty member for use in courses.

G. Reference Policy:

Reference materials in print and online include dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, handbooks, and other works that are generally used for looking up small amounts of information and not read or perused in entirety. The library has an extensive collection of reference materials to meet the needs of all areas of health and nutrition education. These are heavily used by our students who find them essential for the facts and data they are seeking.

H. Duplication:

One copy of each resource is usually acquired. For heavily used materials that are checked out or consulted frequently, the bibliographer will make a decision regarding acquisition of additional copies if budgets allow.

I. Weeding Policy:

Outdated materials and earlier editions of revised works deemed obsolete or no longer applicable to course work or research will be withdrawn.

Updated: March/2001
Prof. Irwin Weintraub