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

Social Science

The library's Social Science collection contains materials on sociology, general works on anthropology, and materials discussing social groups, communities, statistics, social welfare and social services, parenting, criminal justice, and crime. The collection includes both academic and research-oriented materials and more general interest materials. For example, books and other materials intended to help parents with childrearing and family responsibilities are in this collection, but so is a significant collection of materials on urban planning that is well-used by college students and urban planning professionals alike.

Reference materials in the Social Science collection include dictionaries & encyclopedias of the various academic subjects that are part of the collection (e.g. social work, sociology, criminology), directories of organizations, biographies of sociologists, social workers, and famous criminals, current and historical statistical and demographic information on the various regions of the world, and almanacs.

This collection includes general and introductory works on sociology, theories of noted sociologists, and the like, but also covers a wide range of related sociological topics: small group communication, the media and its influence, social movements (both current and historical information), intercultural communication, leadership, violence. Materials discussing the dynamics, impact, and culture of social groups are also here, including groups that are defined by age, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, national identity, political identity, and cultural identity.

Many materials on urban planning are in this collection, as are works on the sociology and history of communities, materials containing statistical and demographic information describing groups of people around the world.

The Social Science collection includes materials intended to serve social workers and related professionals, including reference materials such as directories of nonprofit organizations, and circulating materials on the practical aspects of the social work profession, and on social welfare issues and social problems such as drug abuse, homelessness, medical policy, and child and elder abuse

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Practical materials on parenting and the family are a part of the Social Science collection, and range from caring for newborns, toilet training, and the psychology of toddlers to understanding adolescent development, and tending the sick.

Crime, criminal justice, and true crime are kept with the Social Science collection. This includes materials discussing the causes of crime, crime prevention, profiles of criminals and famous criminal acts, and information regarding prisons, jails, and other correctional institutions.

The Social Sciences collection is used by a wide variety of patrons - social work professionals, urban planners, architects, landscape designers, parents, caregivers, high school and college students, people who need population or other statistical information for various reasons, and general readers with interests in true crime, social organizations, social groups, or sociology.

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Most materials dealing with anthropology are in the Natural Science collection, but those dealing with physical anthropology and archaeology together are part of the History collection. Works of forensic anthropology are part of the Medicine collection (they are with other materials on forensics). At Central Library, the History collection is in the Humanities rooms, and the Natural Science and Medicine collections are kept in the Science & Business room.

There are more materials on urban planning in Art and Architecture collection, and a few items that touch on urban planning are kept with the landscape design materials in the House and Home collection. At Central Library, the Art and Architecture collection is in the Humanities rooms, and the House and Home collection is in the Science & Business room.