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Collection Development Manual > Libraries & Collections > Central Library > Natural Science

Natural Science

Materials that discuss natural science, biology, botany, and zoology are kept together in the Natural Science collection. Biochemistry, genetics and evolution, ecology, natural history, physical anthropology, and materials about specific microorganisms, plants, and animals are all part of the collection, as are general science books including the history and philosophy of science and many works of nature writing.

In some areas in the natural sciences, publishing is not always sufficient to meet the collection's needs, and the library is constantly seeking new materials. A few examples are: botany, surveys of wildlife and plants of regions of the world, botanical illustration, fish, and invertebrates.

Reference materials in the Natural Science collection range from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and directories to general works in the various disciplines, field guides to wildlife and plants, and collections of biographies of scientists. The Natural Science collection's reference materials on birds is extensive; however, the library is decreasing its focus on purchasing works on birds for the circulating collection. And, the library is always seeking to add new materials that focus on Oregon or the Pacific Northwest.

The Natural Science collection is used extensively by adult and young learners who have interests in animals, plants, gardening, ecology, evolution, and related subjects. Elementary, high school, and college students, teachers, and parents also use the collection. As adult learners with an interest in science form a fairly sophisticated audience, the collection may be useful for introductory research into the natural sciences, but it is not intended to support higher academic work.

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Some environmental science materials (particularly those dealing with ecology and ecosystems), are part of the Natural Sciences collection, but some are in other collections as well. For example, works on environmental science as it relates to social services are part of the Social Science collection, works on climatology and ocean sciences are kept with the Physical Science collection, and materials on energy production (including energy production as it relates to environmental topics like global warming) are kept with the Business and Economics collection. Gardening materials are part of the House and Home collection. At Central Library, these collections are all kept in the Science & Business room.

General works on anthropology are part of the Social Sciences collection. Materials discussing forensic anthropology are part of the Medicine collection (they are with other materials on forensics). Current, circulating biographies of natural scientists are part of the Biography collection. At Central Library, the Social Sciences and Medicine collections are kept in the Science & Business room, and the History and Biography collections are in the Humanities rooms.