Bryn Mawr College

Collection Development

Mission

The Library principally acquires materials that relate to the current College curriculum. The trend of general acquisitions today reflects the College's core identity as a highly rigorous and diverse undergraduate institution for women. Bryn Mawr has offered a graduate education since its founding in 1885, and takes seriously its historic research library status. Areas in which graduate programs are presently offered are collected deeply and broadly, as curriculum needs dictate and budgetary resources permit. The research interests of faculty are supported and encouraged, but that support is provided in a measure consistent with the curriculum. Collections in fields no longer taught will continue to be developed when they boast strong inter-disciplinary characteristics.

General Information

Collection development at Bryn Mawr involves a wide cross-section of librarians who work as liaisons with faculty in specific departments and programs. A core team of professional librarians who are responsible for acquisitions operations works closely with the liaisons. With Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges, Bryn Mawr acquires "on approval" new university press books as well as books published by other selected major publishers. Jane McGarry is responsible for ordering all non-subscriptions, regardless of format or whether they are being supplied from the approval plan or via specific "firm" order.

Requests for specific materials can be sent via e-mail to booksreq.

Questions and comments concerning subscriptions should be directed to Berry Chamness.

General questions and comments concerning the Library's collection development program may be directed to Eric Pumroy.

Liaisons by Academic Department and Program:

Department	Liason	Extension
Africana Studies	Eric Pumroy	5272
Anthropology	Olivia Castello	7467
Archaeology	Camilla MacKay	7910
Arts	Arleen Zimmerle	5277
Asian Studies	Eric Pumroy	5272
Biology	Terri Freedman	5118
Chemistry	Terri Freedman	5118
Classical Languages/Classical Studies/Greek and Latin	Camilla MacKay	7910
Computer Science	Terri Freedman	5118
Economics	Olivia Castello	7467
Education	Olivia Castello	7467
English	Arleen Zimmerle	5277
Environmental Studies	Terri Freedman	5118
Feminist and Gender Studies	Eric Pumroy	5272
French	Christine Boyland	7448
General Literature	Arleen Zimmerle	5277
Geology	Terri Freedman	5118
German	Jeremy Blatchley	7918
Growth and Structure of Cities	Jeremy Blatchley	7918
History	Eric Pumroy	5272
History of Art	Jeremy Blatchley	7918
Italian	Christine Boyland	7448
Mathematics	Terri Freedman	5118
Media/Film Studies	Arleen Zimmerle	5277
Medieval Studies	Eric Pumroy	5272
Philosophy	Eric Pumroy	5272
Physics	Terri Freedman	5118
Political Science	Olivia Castello	7467
Psychology	Olivia Castello	7467
Russian	Christine Boyland	7448
Science, General	Terri Freedman	5118
Social Work	Olivia Castello	7467
Sociology	Olivia Castello	7467
Spanish	Christine Boyland	7448

 

Bryn Mawr College Libraries Endowed Funds

The generous support of donor endowed funds helps the libraries support the research and teaching mission of the College. The endowed funds pages list the fund names, the areas of collection support, some historical information on each fund, as well as bookplate images, as available. For reported funds, you may view a cumulative list of individual titles purchased, beginning with fiscal year 2003, by clicking on the fund's name.