Collections: Civil Engineering Policy

Program Description

The Civil and Environmental Engineering program was discontinued following Hurricane Katrina.



Subject Resource Guide

http://library.tulane.edu/research/subject_detail.php?id=9



Scope

Materials are added selectively in support of other research and teaching programs, primarily in earth and environmental sciences, or that are of general interest to New Orleans and Louisiana. Areas of emphasis include environmental engineering, water resource management, bioremediation, natural hazards, urban development, and urban infrastructure.



Type

The library collects monographs, monographic series, reference books, and periodicals, with the main focus being the journal collection. Upper level textbooks are purchased selectively; recent lower-level texts may be accepted as gifts. Textbooks used in current courses are not acquired. Symposium and colloquium proceedings are bought upon request. The library does not generally collect theses or dissertations by authors other than Tulane students, patents, technical reports, standards or specifications. Videorecordings may be purchased upon request.



Format

To broaden accessibility, journals are sought online when this format is available. Print may be cancelled to reduce costs when ownership of the online version is assured and the image quality is adequate. Online access that requires additional costs with a print subscription will be sought selectively within the amount budgeted for civil and environmental engineering journals. Monographs and other types (see above) are generally purchased as printed text. Other formats are considered, especially when the alternative format would improve access or utility. Most scientific abstracting and indexing sources are available as databases searchable online. The library rarely maintains a subscription to both the print and the database version of an index, although the volumes previous to the existence of the database are always retained.



Language

English is the predominant language of publication, but some foreign language journals are collected at the request of the faculty.



Chronological Period

Emphasis is on current research.



Imprint Date

Preference is given to items published within the last two or three years. Items with older imprint dates are sought selectively. Out-of-print materials are sought mostly to replace important works damaged or missing from the collection or by request.



Geographical Considerations

Publications relating to the Gulf South region are particularly important to the collection.



Related Collections

Other Tulane libraries of special interest for civil and environmental engineering include the Architecture Library in Richardson Hall, the Mathematics Research Library in Gibson Hall, and the Tulane Medical Library.



Cooperative Resources

The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library has purchased more than 40,000 ebooks, with records loaded into the library catalog and covering a wide range of subjects, through the SOLINET regional library consortium. The library is one of 14 members of a cooperative consortium of southern research libraries called KUDZU, which includes a shared online catalog. Loan requests through this system receive priority processing and expedited two-day delivery. The library is also a member of the cooperative Center for Research Libraries (CRL) in Chicago, through which may borrow a wide range of rare materials for our users. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty may borrow materials directly from the main library nearby at Loyola University of New Orleans through a reciprocal agreement. Graduate students and faculty may borrow materials at other New Orleans area academic libraries through the CALL consortium and at other academic libraries throughout the state through the LALINC consortium. Faculty may in many cases secure temporary borrowing library privileges outside the state through OCLC. For more information about cooperative borrowing privileges inquire at the library's Circulation Desk.



Supply Sources

Limited numbers of books are automatically delivered to the library through an approval plan from Blackwell's Book Services and Blackwell Oxford. Most other books are purchased individually and also through Blackwell at a discount rate.



Endowed Funds

The McDonald Memorial Fund and the Riess Memorial Fund are designated specifically for civil engineering. The Harrod Fund is available to purchase materials in any area of engineering, while the Class of 1902 Fund may be used for books in any area of science.



Selection Tools

Reviews such as those from Choice, from scientific and engineering journals, and recommendations from faculty, staff, and students are all sources of possible additions to the collection. Book noticed automatically delivered to the library through the Blackwell Plan are considered for possible purchases.