The values below apply to the vernacular-language component of the collection, and so are applicable to Arabic, Persian and Turkish collecting. They may also be regarded as general indicators of the collecting practice of the Western-language component.
Subjects Collected General:
Statistical materials, such as country yearbooks (4F), are collected. Conference proceedings and festschrifts related to a collected subject where published in Western languages are also collected (3F). Conference proceedings in vernacular languages are only collected when the contributing scholars involved are known. Biographical works (2F) are sometimes collected on single figures, but bio-bibliographical works and biographical dictionaries (3F) are always acquired. Manuscript catalogs from major Middle Eastern libraries are collected (3F). Works on the Middle Eastern languages, their grammar, history and rhetoric are not usually collected (2F). On the other hand, scholarly dictionaries are collected (3F). Genealogical works, and works of Christian theology are not usually collected (2F).
Anthropology. (1F) This subject is given secondary importance in our Collection policy. Most of the works in the subject are paid for by the University Museum Library, and are housed there. The University Museum Library receives collection advice from the Middle East Studies Librarian where necessary.
Economics. (1F) This subject too is of secondary importance for collection. Statistical materials are of higher importance.
Education and Health. (2F) These subjects too are of secondary importance. Statistical materials again are of higher importance (4F). Works of popular medicine are not collected (2F).
Food Culture. (4F)Cookbooks, and works which show how food fits into the social life of an area or time period are collected. Works in the vernacular languages are given precedence.
History and Political Science. (5F) These are given precedence in collecting. History from the Classical through to modern times is of primary importance. Specific importance is placed on primary source materials, such as archival materials, and Classical works. Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, the Sudan, Saudi Arabia North Africa and the Gulf States are all collected. The political systems of the MENA (Middle East & North Africa) states are all primary collection subjects. Foreign relations of the MENA states with each other, and especially with the United States are also collected. Biographies of leaders and other important figures are of lesser importance but are still collected. Important works on the Arab-Israeli conflict are collected (3F).
Islam. (5F) Classical works on Islamic doctrine, philosophy, hadith and law; works on Sufism, Koran commentaries, and biographies of Islamic scholars and mystics are all of prime importance. Modern works are of secondary importance, but are collected when on specific important topic such a jihad/religious violence/terrorism, human rights, democracy or Salafism/Wahhabism (4F). Islamic devotional literature is of secondary importance (2F). Only important works on Islamic sects, such as Shiism, are collected (3F). Works by modern Islamic preachers, especially in cassette form are of primary importance (4F). Modern civil law of the Arab countries is of secondary importance (2F).
Islamic Art/Architecture. (1F) Works on these subjects are housed in the Fine Arts Library and are purchased by them with advice from the Middle East Studies Librarian.
Language & Literature. (4F) Works of Classical Arabic literature are of primary importance, and are collected comprehensively. Modern Arabic literature is also important, but the collection of samplings of literature from the different countries or major modern authors is the collection strategy. Grammatical and rhetorical tracts are of lesser interest. Works of literary criticism (3F) are of secondary interest, unless they deal with important authors, or literary movements. Of particular interest are translations of literature (5F) in the vernacular into English or to a lesser degree French. Dictionaries are collected selectively (3F), usually concentrating on dialectical material and classical works.
Media studies. (4F) This relatively new topic is an important part of our collection policy. Works on mass media, the Internet, sociology of mass media and communications/copyright law are all collected. Works on film are also collected.
Sociology. (3F) This subject is of secondary importance for collection. Statistical materials are of higher importance. Works on youth and youth culture are collected. In general, works on ethnic groups and tribes are not collected. However, works on the Kurds, Druze, Assyrians, and the Copts - their history, politics and social customs - are of importance for collection. Travel literature from no later than the early 20th century and earlier is also collected.(3F).