Dartmouth Library Collection Development Policy

The Asian Studies Program at Dartmouth College was expanded in 1987 to include study in Hebrew and Arabic language and literature. The Brownstone Lectureship in Hebrew was established in 1989. During the 1989-90 FY the library received a substantial grant from the Mellon Foundation that was used to purchase basic works in Hebrew and Arabic. In 1995, the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages & Literatures (DAMELL) was formed, offering language training in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, and Japanese, as well as courses on the literary cultures based on these languages.

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GENERAL PURPOSE

The collection supports basic undergraduate instructional needs in the languages and literatures of Israel and the Arabic-speaking world. The collection also aims to provide for the basic reference needs of faculty. Other aspects of study within the Middle East Studies concentration are covered by other collection development policies, notably, Religion, History, and Government.

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DARTMOUTH COLLEGE PROGRAM

DAMELL offers majors in Hebrew and Arabic language and literature. The curriculum is designed to accommodate both those with a broad cultural interest in the Middle East and those students whose career aspirations necessitate a linguistic and cultural understanding of those cultures. While some literature courses require a competency in the foreign language, most do not; they are, as such, open to students with little or no background in that area, but there are opportunities for independent advanced study to qualified students. Three faculty members offer instruction in Hebrew and Arabic language and literature. In addition, the Brownstone Family Visiting Professor offers a seminar in the Spring Term on a special topic. Foreign study in Arabic is available through the Fez, Morocco Program, which is sponsored by the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Program. Foreign study in Hebrew is available at most universities in Israel by special arrangement through the DAMELL and the College Registrar.

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GENERAL SUBJECT BOUNDARIES

Materials acquired for Hebrew and Arabic studies are maintained in Baker Library. Most items fall within the Library of Congress PJ classification, but some can be found in the BM and BJ classifications. Most Hebrew materials in Biblical studies fall under the guidelines of the Religion collection policy. Likewise, Arabic language materials on Islam are covered by the Religion policy.

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LANGUAGES

Materials in Hebrew & Arabic are often purchased in consultation with the appropriate faculty. Special attention is given to acquiring basic literary works and reference sources in the vernacular. Priority is also given to major titles in Arabic literature from the Classical period. Literature in English translation is collected when possible to support course offerings. Secondary literature is collected principally in English.

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GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

Israel and the Arabic-speaking world.

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TYPES OF MATERIAL COLLECTED

Emphasis is on primary sources in monograph format. Until the College provides is sufficient funding for library acquisitions, journals and monographic series will be added sparingly. Until then, journals are added under the SASIA fund, which was created to track serials in Asian studies. Arabic and Hebrew newspapers are charged to the SNEWS fund.

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FORMAT OF MATERIALS COLLECTED

Publication in Hebrew and Arabic literature is mainly confined to the traditional formats of books and serials. Videotapes on Arabic and Israeli culture and cinema are purchased and kept in the Jones Microtext Center. The series, "Palestinian Diaries," subtitled in English, is owned in video format. The library does own some Hebrew electronic texts, notably, the Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, and Rashi commentaries. Index Islamicus is owned on CD-ROM and the Quran Browser is available through DCIS.

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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND MANUSCRIPTS

By virtue of its colonial beginnings, Special Collections has a number of important early American books that were printed in Hebrew or used Hebrew type. The library also has manuscripts of Hebrew commencement orations written and delivered by Dartmouth students. The college also owns a 19th century Esther scroll. The George M. L. Brown Oriental Collection includes specimens of Arabic manuscripts (14th-19th centuries).

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OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Due to the limited funds for acquisitions in Hebrew & Arabic, the existence of other research collections in New England do not affect the Library's pruchasing practices. The Dartmouth collection primarily supports teaching. Faculty and students typically must travel to other collections to do research-level work in Hebrew and Arabic. Several RLG libraries have research level collections in Hebrew and Arabic. Other collections include Harvard, Yale and Hartford Seminary.

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