Collection Policies

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers a program of study consisting of four optional tracks, each of which leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in mathematics: Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Mathematics for Secondary School Teachers or Mathematics/Computer Science for Secondary School Teachers. Students may pursue a minor in mathematics with an emphasis in applied mathematics or an emphasis in statistics. The master’s and doctoral programs in computational and applied mathematics offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics offer an option in either applied mathematics or statistics.

The purpose of the collection in the area of Mathematics and Statistics is to support teaching and research through the doctoral level in the following fields: applied mathematics. statistics, probability. numerical analysis, scientific computing. mathematical logic, algebra. machine theory, game theory. geometry, topology, and analytic mechanics. Recognition must be accorded to the fact that ODU is one of the few American institutions offering a post-graduate level program in applied mathematics and that, therefore, ODU will likely be looked upon as a national resource in this area. Recognition must also be given to the fact that there are a large number of graduate and post-graduate degrees offered by ODU in math-oriented fields (physics, chemistry, and engineering) as well as in such areas as oceanography, biology, biomedical sciences, ecological sciences, health sciences, economics, and accounting.
 

Languages: English will be the primary language of collection, but materials in other languages will be collected when the works in question are deemed of importance to the discipline. Good mathematics is written worldwide so the collection should mirror the international character of mathematics research.

Chronologica1 guidelines: No limitations. Materials relevant to the study of the progression of mathematics from its ancient beginnings to the present will be collected.

Geographica1 guidelines: No limitations. As with languages, the collection should mirror the international character of mathematics research.

Treatment of subject: A broad based collection illustrating all of the concepts of mathematics will be collected with especial emphasis on those areas with practical (as opposed to purely theoretical) application. Works that are ostensibly classified under other subjects with heavy mathematical content will be especially significant for the applied mathematics focus at Old Dominion University.

Types of materials: Books, journals, conference proceedings, dissertations, working papers, and technical reports make up the standard monographic and serial publications for the field of mathematics/statistics. Supplementing standard monographic and serial publications will be the following: encyclopedias and dictionaries of mathematics. reports of mathematical institutes. proceedings and transactions of mathematical congresses and conferences, symposia. working papers, directories of mathematicians, indices, abstracts. and bibliographies. Publications in non-paper formats (e.g. microform. electronic. etc.) will be considered using the same criteria as is used for publications in paper formats.

Date of publication: Emphasis will be on current publications except when the budget allows otherwise. However, as mathematicians often like to browse older literature, retrospective purchasing will not be considered solely as a frivolous luxury.

Other General Considerations:

• Related Subject Policy Statements:

• Other resources:
• The Center for Research Libraries with which Old Dominion University Library is now affiliated has extensive holdings from which items are available on extended loan to Old Dominion University Library users.
• For work in applied mathematics with a focus on problems from the field of physics, the CEBAF Library is available.
• For work in applied mathematics with an astronomical focus, NASA Langley Library is available.

DATE: 21 Feb. 1995
BIBLIOGRAPHER: Ed Summers