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

Political Science

The Political Science collection covers various subjects related to politics, government, and political systems, as well as political parties and the political process, the legislative process, civil rights, international relations and foreign affairs, slavery and emancipation, public administration, and the administration of local government.

General vocational materials for prospective and current government workers, and materials intended to help individuals prepare for civil service examinations are also part of the Political Science collection, as are materials that discuss the administration of local government offices (e.g. city or local police, health, and sanitation departments).

Reference materials in this collection include biographical dictionaries, guides to political systems and systems of government, directories of party and government offices and officials (state, local, federal, and international), encyclopedias and guides to the history of civil rights (particularly in the United States), and materials on the history of espionage.

The Political Science collection is widely used by high school, middle school, and college students, and also by adult independent learners who are interested in politics, public administration, and government.

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Many aspects of law enforcement and criminal justice are covered in the Social Science collection. Also, though the history of political parties and other organized groups is part of the Political Science collection, works of political history that cover more than a single party or group are generally kept with the History collection. At Central Library, the Social Science collection is kept in the Science & Business room, and the History collection is kept in the Humanities rooms.

Reference sets of laws, regulations, and legal codes are part of the Government Documents collection, as are congressional and legislative records, and many reference materials on law, the legal process, government administration, the judiciary, and introductions to the three branches of government. The bulk of the Government Documents collection is at Central Library, where it is kept in the Government Documents room.