General Purpose

The collections support the current and anticipated instructional, research and service programs of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville at all degree levels and provides for the information needs of the community at large.

Subject Description

The collection is designed to collect, organize, and provide access to the publications of U.S. federal, state, and local government agencies, foreign governments and international organizations. Subject areas strongly represented include: agriculture, business, economics, education, energy, geography, health, human services, political science, public policy, statistics, and technology.

Overlap with Other Subjects

Documents in all subject areas that are non-depository, or are published and distributed by commercial publishers, fall within the responsibility of individual subject selectors.

Languages Collected and Excluded

English is the primary language. However, some Spanish and French language materials are occasionally received. Translations of foreign press (FBIS) reports (e.g., Central Intelligence Agency translations of European and Asian television and radio broadcasts) and technical reports (JPRS) are collected extensively.

Geographic Parameters

Emphasis is placed on United States materials, also particular attention is given to Tennessee and the southern United States. Documents of the United Nations and other international organizations are also collected.

Chronological Scope

No particular periods are emphasized or excluded.

Dates of Publications

Emphasis is on current materials.

Retrospective Acquisitions

Retrospective selection occurs on a limited basis to fill gaps in existing holdings or in response to specific requests as required for graduate level study or faculty research. These titles are generally purchased in microformat.

Types of Material Collected and Excluded

All print and microform materials are included. Posters, forms, press releases, patents, and military specifications are excluded.

Formats of Materials Collected and Excluded

All formats are considered. Microforms, CD-ROM, video and computer disk files are collected based on research and curriculum needs and the availability of equipment and software.

Cooperation with Other Libraries

Depository collections are part of a local, regional, and national network. Documents are available from the regional depository at Memphis State University, and from other libraries within the state through the Tennessee Depositories Shared Holdings Agreement. Documents may also be requested from the Center for Research Libraries.

Alternative Access to Resources

Non-depository materials are requested from the Library of Congress Documents Expediting Project or directly from government agencies. Many documents are available full-text on bulletin boards and other INTERNET resources. Interlibrary loan also provides access to government documents not held on the UT campus.

Position Responsible for Collection

Documents Coordinator, Janette Prescod

Corresponding Fund

Publications acquired outside of standard depository arrangements include: statistical reports from ASI, SRI, and IIS; technical reports from NASA, DOE, ERIC, and EPA; and standing order profiles for the United Nations, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the International Labour Organization.

Other Factors

Government agencies publish according to their needs, interests and prevailing economic conditions. Therefore, documents must be selected and ordered promptly because they are soon out of print.

May 3, 2002