The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian, Christine Jewell, in consultation with the Faculty Library Representative, Daniel Sahas.
The Department of Religious Studies offers general and honours undergraduate degrees. Courses deal with various facets of the religions of the world, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and others. As well there is an array of courses dealing with the ethical, social, psychological, and cultural aspects of religious life. The faculty of the department come from the university and the four affiliated church colleges on campus: Conrad Grebel College, St. Paul’s United College, University of St. Jerome’s College, and Renison College.
For core materials, the emphasis is on the English language and translations into English. Materials in major western European languages are collected if relevant.
Coverage emphasiszes the following geographic areas: Europe, North America, the Middle East, India, China, and Japan.
Selective coverage extends from ancient times to the present day.
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 materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the Library.
The following types of materials are generally included: books, periodicals, reprints, facsimiles, reference works, symposia, conference proceedings, festschrifts.
The following formats are generally included: print, microforms, electronic format.
The following types of materials are collected selectively: dissertations and theses, manuscripts and unpublished materials, government documents, pamphlets.
The following formats are collected selectively: computer software, sound recordings.
| Biblical Studies | 4 |
| Buddhism | 4 |
| Christianity (general) | 3 |
| Eastern Churches (i.e. Orthodox, Coptic, etc.) | 2 |
| Greek and Roman Religion | 3 |
| Hinduism | 3 |
| History and Development of Christian Thought | 4 |
| History of Religions (Comparative Religions) | 3 |
| History of the Christian Church | 3 |
| Inter-religious Relations | 3 |
| Islam | 3 |
| Jewish Culture and Thought | 4 |
| Judaism | 4 |
| Modern Religious Thought | 3 |
| Mysticism | 3 |
| New Religions | 4 |
| Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| Psychology of Religion | 4 |
| Religion in America | 3 |
| Religion in Canada | 3 |
| Religions of China | 2 |
| Religious Art | 3 |
| Sikhism | 4 |
| Study of Religion: its History and Methodologies | 3 |
| Women in Religion | 3 |
| World Religions | 3 |
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 master’s 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.
Library of Congress Outline – Religious Studies
| B123 | Philosophy. Buddhist |
| B130-133 | Hinduism/Philosophy |
| B163 | Philosophy. Islamic |
| B740-753 | Philosophy. Islamic/Medieval |
| BL | Religions. Mythology. Rationalism |
| BM | Judaism |
| BP | Islam |
| BQ | Buddhism |
| BR | Christianity |
| BS | Bible |
| BT | Doctrinal Theology |
| BV590-1652 | Ecclesiastical theology |
| BV5070-5095 | Mysticism/Christianity |
| BX | Christian Denominations |
| N7790-8199 | Religious Art |
| Z7751-7860 | Religious Literature/Bibliography |
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 be retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
The Library continues to explore various initiatives from a TriUniversity Group and Ontario Council of University Libraries perspective.
The Conrad Grebel College Library collects in the following areas:
Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies
Anabaptist-Mennonite History and Theology
New Testament Studies
Protestant Evangelical Theology
The University of St. Jerome’s Library collects in the following areas:
Catholicism
Christian doctrines
Ecumenism
Psychology of Religion
Religious Ethics
Roman Catholic Church
Saints
Science and Religion
Sociology of Religion
Theology
Women in Religion
Web resources relevant to Religious Studies are located on the Religious Studies Electronic Library page: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/religious/
Last updated July 20, 2004
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