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Collection Development Manual > Libraries & collections > Central Library > Physical Science

Physical Science

The Physical Sciences collection is made up largely of materials on astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology and earth sciences, and paleontology. This collection also includes materials on navigation, climatology, ocean sciences, optics, and on calendars and timekeeping, though these items are a smaller portion of the collection.

For the most part, materials in the Physical Sciences collection are intended for the general reader, but there are also some more technical books for the advanced adult learner. The collection contains many popular interest items, especially in physics, astronomy, and paleontology (which includes materials about dinosaurs, fossils, and prehistoric life).

This collection includes reference materials such as astronomical charts and maps, weather and climatological handbooks, guides to the periodic table, and geological or paleontological field guides, as well as encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies, histories, and directories devoted to the various disciplines in the physical sciences. Circulating materials cover a wider range, and as mentioned above, many are general interest or somewhat more academic titles aimed at the adult learner.

The geology materials are a very strong portion of the Physical Sciences collection. The library owns extensive materials in this area, particularly geology materials dealing with the western region of the United States. In addition, the library is always searching for works on the geology of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, as well as on oceanography, surveys for areas of the world, and materials discussing volcanoes and earthquakes in general and Mt. St. Helens in particular.

The library is always looking to improve the currency of the Physical Science collection, without sacrificing its strengths in older materials that provide historical information. Much of the general interest use of this collection is driven by popular interest in physical science topics, and the library strives to provide materials on the latest physical science topics in the news. In particular, the library is always seeking more materials in the fields of chemistry and paleontology, as few general interest or popular interest titles are published in these areas.

The Physical Sciences collection is heavily used by middle school, high school, and college students, as well as by general readers. As adult learners with an interest in science form a fairly sophisticated audience, the collection may be useful for introductory research into the physical sciences, but it is not intended to support higher academic work.

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Materials on optical instruments are kept with the Manufacturing collection, and items on microscopy are kept in the Natural Science collection. Current, circulating biographies of scientists are part of the Biography collection.

Navigation charts are kept with the Geography collection (which includes maps, atlases, and charts). Other works on navigation are part of the Military Science collection.

At Central Library, the Manufacturing, Natural Science, and Military Science collections are in the Science & Business room, and the Biography and Geography collections are in the Humanities rooms.