Subject Librarian: Rosa Orlandini
Academic Programmes Supported and Description of Current Collection
"Geography is an unusual subject in that it bridges the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities. It is concerned with processes occurring on and close to the earth's surface, some of which are purely physical, others of which are largely social or economic. Thus research within the discipline ranges from laboratory models duplicating river systems to the interpretation of landscape painting".
The Geography collection at York helps to support the Geography Department, Faculty of Arts, Geography & Urban Studies Department, Atkinson College , the Faculty of Environmental Studies, the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Science, the Division of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, and area studies such as the Urban Studies Program, African Studies Program, and Latin American & Caribbean Studies. Collection building in Geography is broad and interdisciplinary. The collection supports teaching and research from the undergraduate through to the doctoral level, since the Geography Department offers B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., and Ph.D degree courses. At the doctoral level, the areas of specialization are Biogeography/Biogeochemistry, Historical and Cultural Geography, Resource Analysis, and Social and Economic Space.
The Libraries' collection in Geography also supports interdisciplinary research units within the University, such as the Institute for Social Research, Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Centre for Refugee Studies.
Description of Current Collection
Major areas of concentration are historical and cultural geography, economic geography, urban and rural geography, biogeography, hydrology, climatology, resource management, prehistorical geography and native Canada, development studies, behavioral and social geography, medical geography, quaternary environments and geographic theory. The Libraries make an effort to acquire all relevant academic current publications issued in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain.
Related Collections at York
Students and scholars in the field of Geography use the map and atlas collections which are located in the Map Library. Geographers make use of government publications housed in the Business and Government Publications Library and in the Steacie Science Library. Reference works are acquired by the bibliographers in the Scott and Steacie Science Reference Departments. Because geography is so interdisciplinary, there is also a significant amount of overlapping with other collection areas, such as environmental studies, earth and atmospheric sciences, biology, economics, history, anthropology and sociology. The focus of the work is the deciding factor for questionable items. Hydrology, climatology, and geology, for example, are usually selected by the Steacie Science bibliographer. Economic studies are usually selected by the Economics bibliographer.
Languages
English language publications dominate the collection. Faculty requests for items in other languages are usually acquired.
Geographical Coverage
Publications are acquired primarily from Canada, the United States, and Great Britain. Areas of study cover the world; however, emphasis is placed on North America, Europe, Russia, the Caribbean and Africa.
Chronological Coverage
Chronology is not applicable.
Date of Publications
The budget allows for current purchasing only.
Duplication
Apart from the Frost Library, duplication of geography materials in other collections of the York University Libraries is rare. Additional copies are acquired if there is demand, or if circulation assessments indicate a need.
Gifts
Gifts are accepted as need dictates.
Relegation and Weeding
There is no relegation or weeding at this time.
- Books -- The collection is, for the most part, in paper format. Where possible, paperbacks are selected over hardbacks.
- All major journals in English are acquired.
- Theses and dissertations are pu rchased very selectively in subjects that are of general interest. They are bought in paper format.
- CD-ROMS are also being added to the collection. The Steacie Science Library, for example, has already acquired GEOREF.
- The Libraries also have access to online database services, such as BRS, CAN/OLE, Dialog Information Services, IDRC (International Development Research Centre) and OCLC that help to support research and teaching functions in the University.
Resources Elsewhere in the Toronto Region
On campus, students and faculty in geography also make extensive use of the Geography Department Teaching Resources Centre, the Institute for Social Research and the York University Computing Services; off campus, researchers consult the Robarts Library, University of Toronto, The Ryerson Polytechnic University Library, community colleges libraries, the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library and Provincial Government libraries.
Collecting Levels
Last updated 1994