Archer Library: Classics Collections Policy: Guidelines

General Considerations

3.1 Subject coverage

Works on the history and social environment of the classical world and its civilization are selected. Critical works, both general and of particular periods, genres, movements, authors and individual works, are acquired as are biographies of major literary figures and studies of their backgrounds and influences.

3.2 Languages

Original works are in Greek or Latin. Significant modern translations into English are acquired. Current critical studies of classical literature, as well as other aspects of classical civilization, are obtained in English.

3.3 Chronological periods

For Greek, the classical period period (ca. 8th century B.C.E. to 3rd century B.C.E.) is emphasized, with lesser attention to Hellenistic (ca. 300 B.C.E. to 150 B.C.E.) and New Testament Greek. Coverage of Byzantine Greek is minimal. For Latin literature, the classical period, particularly the Golden (ca. 78 B.C.E. to 18 C.E.) and Silver (ca. 18 C.E. to 133 C.E.) Ages, is stressed. There is less coverage of the medieval period, with the majority of the material located at Campion. Significant humanists of the Renaissance, such as Erasmus, are collected.

3.4 Publication date

The majority of acquisitions are of current or fairly recently-published materials. Older works that are especially important or of historical interest may be collected.

3.5 Geographic areas

Ancient Greece, the Hellenistic world and, to a lesser extent, the Byzantine Empire; modern Greece is excluded. Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire.

3.6 Exclusions

Printed maps.

3.7 Formats

The library acquires materials in all formats (paper, electronic, microform, etc.), giving consideration to the appropriateness or usefulness of the format. Modern editions of texts with scholarly introduction, notes and critical apparatus in English are selected. Paperbacks are preferred.