The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian, Michele Laing, in consultation with the Faculty Library Representative, Robert Jan van Pelt.
The programme offered by the School of Architecture prepares students for a career as a professional architect. Architectural studies follow a five-year Academic Plan. An Honours, Pre-Professional, four-year Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree, with alternating periods of academic study and practical work experience, is followed by a one year professional plan of study for the Master of Architecture degree.
Undergraduate studies revolve around four theme areas: Design, Culture, Technology, and Environment. Within a broad education base, students undertake to study and understand the evolution of society and culture, the interaction of humans with the natural and the built environment, design methods and theories, and the principles and technological practice underlying materials and building construction techniques. The programme both encourages and offers substantial opportunities for the development of critical thinking skills and creative expression.
Coursework for the Master of Architecture degree increasingly emphasizes architectural design and theory, with a wide selection of Design Studio options available. A series of special courses prepare students for practice by addressing current professional topics in architecture. Students assume greater independence in their work and are expected to produce a final document detailing their intensive study and original thought on a topic of their choice.
Core materials in English and French are preferred. Foreign language materials are collected mainly in German and Italian but works in any European language are collected if appropriate. Items that consist largely of illustrations are not subject to language restrictions.
The academic curriculum in Architecture is global, with particular emphasis on North America and Europe. Library acquisitions are not restricted by geographical limitations.
Coverage of Architecture is from the prehistoric period to the present. There are no chronological limitations.
Priority is given to materials published in North America and Europe.
Retrospective as well as currently published materials are collected.
In general, the Library does not acquire any type of materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the library.
The following types of materials are generally included: Books, periodicals, reference works, government publications, and theses, in print or electronic format as appropriate.
The following types of materials are collected selectively: Conference proceedings or symposia, technical reports, textbooks, architectural drawings, and vertical file materials.
The following types of materials are excluded: Slides and three-dimensional architectural models.
| Architects | 3 |
| Architects – Legal status, laws, etc | 1 |
| Architectural acoustics | 3 |
| Architectural criticism | 3 |
| Architectural design | 3 |
| Architectural drawing | 3 |
| Architectural models | 3 |
| Architectural museums | 2 |
| Architectural practice | 3 |
| Architectural rendering | 3 |
| Architectural technology | 3 |
| Architectural writing | 3 |
| Architecture | 3 |
| Architecture - Aesthetics | 3 |
| Architecture - Competitions | 3 |
| Architecture - Conservation and restoration | 2 |
| Architecture Design and plans | 3 |
| Architecture - Details | 3 |
| Architecture - Environmental aspects | 3 |
| Architecture - Historiography | 3 |
| Architecture - History | 3 |
| Architecture - Human factors | 3 |
| Architecture - Orders | 3 |
| Architecture - Study and teaching | 2 |
| Architecture - Theory | 3 |
| Architecture and climate | 3 |
| Architecture and energy conservation | 3 |
| Building (works on the process of construction) | 3 |
| Building materials | 3 |
| Buildings (General works on structures) | 3 |
| Buildings – Mechanical equipment | 3 |
| Communication in architectural design | 3 |
| Computer - aided design | 2 |
| Decoration and ornament, Architectural | 3 |
| Landscape architecture | 3 |
| Photography, Architectural | 2 |
| Structures | 3 |
| Symbolism in architecture | 3 |
| Visual literacy | 2 |
0. Out of Scope
The library does not collect in this subject.
1. Minimal Information Level
The collection supports minimal inquiries about this subject with a limited selection of monographs and reference works.
2. Basic Information Level
The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important reference works, general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited selection of representative general periodicals are collected.
3. Instructional Support level
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study and masters degree programmes. Materials collected include a wide range of reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection of monographs and periodicals. Access to owned or remotely accessed electronic resources, including texts, journals, data sets, etc. is provided.
4. Research level
The collection includes major published source materials required for doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including appropriate foreign-language titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs, archival materials, and back-runs of serials are acquired as necessary.
5. Comprehensive Level
The collection is exhaustive in its depth and scope. All relevant materials, in all formats and applicable languages, are retained and preserved. The collection may be recognised as a national resource.
All collections should be systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that essential and important resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles containing outdated information should be withdrawn as necessary. Classic retrospective materials should he retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
Adapted from RLG guidelines.
| CC | Archaeology |
| DE | Classical antiquities |
| DF | Classical antiquities - Greece |
| DG | Classical antiquities - Rome |
| E59.D9 | Indians - Dwellings |
| E98.D9 | Indians of North America - Dwellings |
| E159 | United States. Historic houses, etc |
| F1219.3.A6 | Indians of Mexico - Architecture |
| F1434.2.A | Indians of Central America - Architecture |
| F2230.1.A | Indians of South America - Architecture |
| FC | Historic buildings — Canada |
| GT170-482 | Dwellings |
| HT101-381 | Cities and towns |
| HT161-165 | Garden Cities |
| HT390-395 | Regional planning |
| N-NX | Visual arts, design, interior design and furnishings |
| NA | Architecture |
| SB469-479 | Landscape architecture |
| TA633-700 | Structural engineering |
| TF300- 401 | Transportation terminals |
| TH1 | Building construction |
| TH 845 | Architectural engineering |
| TH 1061-9745 | Building construction |
| TR | Architectural photography |
| UG406-433 | Fortifications |
The Library continues to explore various initiatives from a TriUniversity Group and Ontario Council of University Libraries perspective.
The University of Guelph offers a graduate programme in Landscape Architecture and their library has many resources of interest to the School of Architecture.
The most significant and useful resources relevant to Architecture are collected on the Architecture discipline page at: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/arch/index.html
University of Waterloo Library
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4883
contact us | give us feedback | privacy statement | © 2011
University of Waterloo