The following is a summary of University of Waterloo (UW) Library resources in support of the undergraduate programme in Religious Studies, prepared by Christy Branston, Liaison Librarian for Religious Studies.
The University of Waterloo Library’s collections for Religious Studies are housed primarily in the Dana Porter Library. Religious Studies materials are also available in the libraries on campus at Conrad Grebel University College, Renison College, and St. Jerome’s University. This report will be focusing on library resources available in the Dana Porter Library. Material is collected to support teaching and research relevant for study towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. The decision to purchase Library materials for this programme is the responsibility of the Religious Studies Liaison Librarian in consultation with the Faculty Library Representatives. Selection of resources for the Dana Porter Library is guided by the Collection Development Policy and the Approval PlanSubject Profile for Religious Studies (see Financial Support table below).
The Library purchases resources using two methods. Liaison Librarians, often in consultation with faculty or students, Firm Order materials based upon specific title requests or recommendations, book reviews, and publisher’s brochures. Approval Plans, based upon departmental profiles, prompt the regular delivery of materials to the library from selected major vendors. These materials are reviewed by the Liaison Librarian and may be returned to the vendor if unsatisfactory. Most Canadian materials are received via the Coutts Library Services Approval Plan.
Summary of Expenditures – Religious Studies
| Year | Serial Expenditure | Book Expenditure | Approval Plan Support | Total Exp & Sup. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995/96 | $ 6,539 |
$ 7,042 |
$ 11,929 |
$ 25,510 |
| 1996/97 | $ 6,648 |
$ 4,788 |
$ 13,790 |
$ 25,226 |
| 1997/98 | $ 6,352 |
$ 2,554 |
$ 13,679 |
$ 22,586 |
| 1998/99 | $ 6,835 |
$ 5,117 |
$ 16,149 |
$ 28,101 |
| 1999/00 | $ 7,128 |
$ 5,025 |
$ 20,581 |
$ 32,734 |
| 2000/01 | $ 4,947 |
$ 5,350 |
$ 22,590 |
$ 32,887 |
| 2001/02 | $ 5,956 |
$ 4,370 |
$ 16,831 |
$ 27,158 |
| 2002/03 | $ 7,516 |
$ 4,768 |
$ 16,501 |
$ 28,785 |
The UW collection includes 34,808 monographs in subject areas relevant to Religious Studies. As well, there are of 22,166 monographs relevant to Religious Studies located in other libraries on campus. The Religious Studies serials fund currently pays for 39 current print serials. There are also 91 electronic journals available in areas relevant to Religious Studies.
Religious Studies Monograph Item Count in the Dana Porter Library
| Classification | Range | Dana Porter Library * | Other Campus Libraries * |
|---|---|---|---|
B123 |
Philosophy. Buddhist |
4 |
0 |
B130 – 133 |
Hinduism / Philosophy |
331 |
9 |
B163 |
Philosophy. Islamic |
2 |
1 |
B740-753 |
Philosophy. Islamic/Medieval |
196 |
13 |
BL |
Religions. Mythology. Rationalism |
6,868 |
1,174 |
BM |
Judaism |
1,723 |
234 |
BP |
Islam |
1,807 |
83 |
BQ |
Buddhism |
709 |
36 |
BR |
Christianity |
6,333 |
2,922 |
BS |
Bible |
3,770 |
3,978 |
BT |
Doctrinal Theology |
2,933 |
3,160 |
BV590-1652 |
Ecclesiastical Theology |
602 |
1,487 |
BV5070-5095 |
Mysticism/Christianity |
358 |
88 |
BX |
Christian Denominations |
8,529 |
8,824 |
N7790-8199 |
Religious Art |
442 |
32 |
Z7751-7860 |
Religious Literature/Bibliography |
201 |
125 |
Total |
|
34,808 |
22,166 |
*Please note all counts given reflect the minimum number of titles.
In 1997 the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and the University of Guelph formed a library consortium called the Tri-Universities Group (TUG) to foster co-operation and the sharing of resources among the three institutions. The TRELLIS online catalogue is a product of this merger. It provides patrons with quick and easy access to collections at all three institutions, providing students at this university with many more books and journal titles for their research needs. The catalogue is available via terminals in the library, direct, dial-in access by modem, through the campus network, UWinfo, and via the World Wide Web (http://www.tug-libraries.on.ca/trellis/).
The Library's automated circulation system allows users to charge out materials during the hours that the building is open. With the exception of the current issues of journals, reference materials, and some course Reserve readings, most library resources circulate. Materials that have low or no documented circulation are housed in a storage facility in Guelph known as the TUG Annex. Online forms allow patrons at UW to request books and journal articles from the TUG Annex facility. Delivery is guaranteed within three working days.
The University of Waterloo Electronic Library (UWELib)
(http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/) provides organized access to Web-based resources. The Library subscribes to a number of databases relevant to Religious Studies including a variety of web-based journal indexes such as: (ATLA Religion Database, RAMBI –The index of Articles on Jewish Studies, Arts and Humanities Citation Index, America: History and Life, Art Index, Historical Abstracts, Humanities Full Text, Canadian Periodical Index, MLA International Bibliography, Philosopher’s Index, PsychInfo, and Sociological Abstracts. These web-based indexes allow patrons to conduct their research from computers at home and in their office or lab as well as in the library. Some indexes also provide the full-text of selected articles in journals to which the library does not subscribe. Additionally, the Library subscribes to 9000 full text electronic journals ( http://www.tug-libraries.on.ca/ejournals/ ).
UW Liaison Librarians have gathered, organized, and provided links to scholarly Internet resources by discipline as well as to other resources such as library catalogues from around the world. The UW Electronic Library discipline pages can be accessed through the URL http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/discip.html .
The Library collections for Religious Studies, excluding the libraries at Conrad Grebel University College, Renison College, and St. Jerome’s University, are primarily housed in Dana Porter Library. The Library is open 97 hours per week during the term with extended hours during exam periods. There are 976 study spaces and 5 study rooms available in Porter Library. A total of 76 public workstations, spread throughout the library, are available for patron use. The machines have access to the Internet, word processing and have printing capabilities. The Library also provides reader/printers for patrons using the micromedia collections. This equipment may be used whenever the Library is open.
Reference assistance is available in person or by telephone at the Library's Information Desks which are staffed by professional librarians and specially trained library assistants. The Library also offers an electronic reference service (http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/comments/) that includes email as well as live real-time “chat” with a librarian.
Liaison librarians offer course-related instruction about library research resources and are also available for consultation with individuals or small groups of students. The Library also offers general orientation programmes including tours and workshops on topics including database searching and the World Wide Web.
UW students and faculty can borrow resources from the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University. The book and article delivery service obtains materials from the University of Guelph, free of charge, within 2-3 days of request. Students can submit requests using the Request item in TRELLIS button in the library catalogue.
Faculty and students may borrow directly from most Ontario universities under the Direct Borrowing Agreement. The Interlibrary Loans (ILL) Service obtains, for UW students and faculty, books, journal articles, theses, etc. from institutions in Canada and abroad. UW Library is currently underwriting the cost of this service to ensure equal, free access for all members of the university community. An online software system called RACER, facilitates this service. The Library sends the requests to other libraries electronically and most are filled in less than ten working days.
The Library provides a consistently high level of support to all of the departments with an interest in the Religious Studies programme. Liaison Librarians strive to acquire appropriate resources and offer quality reference services to faculty and undergraduate students in their research and coursework. Access to the collections at the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University, advancements in ILL service, and the availability of many full-text electronic journals and databases have added to the variety and richness of resources in the UW Library collection.
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