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Collection Development Manual > Libraries & Collections > Central Library > Manufacturing

Manufacturing

The Manufacturing collection is made up of materials that provide information about companies, practices, products, and processes in the manufacturing industry, materials providing information for collectors of manufactured products, and materials describing the history of the various parts of the manufacturing industry.

Some of the manufacturing industry areas that are well-represented in the collection are: wine and beer making and other beverage industry technology, food manufacturing and processing, soaps and cosmetics, clocks and watches, business machines, medical devices, leather products, footwear, toys (including books on toys, dolls, and fly tying), blacksmithing, locks and guns, large household appliances, printing, typography and bookbinding (both manufacturing and hand-binding and printing are covered), typography, metalworking, welding, electroplating, and explosives.

Materials on metallurgy are also a part of this collection, though the library focuses on materials for the layperson and the collection does not include the more advanced academic or technical titles as a general rule.

Historically, the Manufacturing collection has been strong in materials relating to lumber, papermaking, and the timber industry, but as this industry has declined in importance in Oregon's economy, the library's collection of lumber industry materials has become less of a focus. Therefore, the Manufacturing collection is strong in older materials on lumber and timber, especially those that continue to provide an historical perspective on the industry and its technologies, but current materials are not a major part of the collection.

The Manufacturing collection is used by a wide variety of library patrons: professionals, college and high school students, collectors, teachers, arts and crafts enthusiasts, and general readers with an interest in the manufacturing subjects.

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Further materials on the timber industry (largely of historical rather than contemporary significance) are located in the Technology collection. Materials on graphic design are located in the Art and Architecture collection. At Central Library, the Art and Architecture collection is in the Humanities rooms, while the Technology collection is kept in the Science & Business room.