Collection Development Policy: Mathematics
  • Subject Librarian(s):
    Janet Crager

  • Departmental Library Representative (DLR):
    Henry Pohlmann

  • Description of the Academic Program | Home Page
    The Department of Mathematics has maintained a long history of distinguished research and mathematical education at Brown University. The department supports mathematics education at many levels. For the undergraduate, courses in precalculus, calculus, and linear algebra for students at varying skill levels. In addition, courses in algebra, geometry, and analysis provide the undergraduate the opportunity to expand their mathematics education. The department also supports standard concentration programs in economics, computer science, and physics.

    The graduate program in mathematics is primarily a Ph.D. program and is designed to prepare the student for a career in mathematics research and academic teaching. The graduate program centers around a group of core courses on Algebra, Complex Function Theory, Real Function Theory, Topology, and Differentiable Manifolds. In addition, courses are provided that focus on other significant topics such as Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, Differential Geometry, Partial Differential Equations, and Probability. In support of these advanced subjects and to expand the study and research experience, the department maintains active research groups on Analysis and Partial Differential Equations, Geometry and Topology, and Algebra and Number Theory.



  • Overview of the Collection
    The Mathematics Collection serves as the research laboratory for the Mathematics Department. Consisting of over 42,000 titles, of which almost 500 are print and/or electronic seriels, the mathematics collection is very extensive in its coverage of all fields of mathematics. The collection also contains a very extensive collection of European titles. In addition, Mathematics derives interdisciplinary benefits from many other science collections. Collections in Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, History of Mathematics, and Economics, all contribute support to meet the needs of the Mathematics department. Many out of print books and journals also available on microfilm.

    There are two major electronic resources that support research in mathematics that are available. MathSciNet is a comprehensive database covering the world's mathematical literature since 1940. It covers approximately 1700 current serials and journals in whole or in part. Zentralblatt MATH is the world's most complete and longest running abstracting and reviewing service in pure and applied mathematics. The database contains more than 1.8 million entries drawn from more than 2300 serials and journals.



  • General Collecting Guidelines
    The mathematics collection is one of the premiere collections held by the Brown University Libraries. It is a comprehensive collection that the library attempts to maintain at a RESEARCH level. A RESEARCH level collection includes the major source materials required for dissertations and independent research, including materials containing research reporting, new findings, scientific experimental results, and other information useful to researchers. It also includes all important reference works and a wide selection of specialized monographs, as well as a very extensive collection of journals and major indexing and abstracting services in this field.

    It is an important priority to acquire all important new publications in the field of mathematics. All primary publishers in the field of mathematics are to be reviewed in order to ensure that all works are evaluated. Except for lower level mathematics titles, all works are acquired from publishers such as the American Mathematical Society, MIT Press, Cambridge University Press, Harvard University Press, Oxford University Press, Yale University Press, Birkhauser, AK Peters, and Sage. Other publishers that should be heavilty evaluated include Springer-Verlag, Wiley, Academic Press, Clarendon/Oxford, Kluwer, World Scientific and other university presses. Consideration is given to works created by all noted authors and researchers in mathematics.

  • Specific Collecting Guidelines
    • Language: English, original or in translation. Some material in major European languages including Russian.
    • Chronological Span: Primarily contemporary works.
    • Imprint Date: Current imprints. Frequent purchase of retrospective materials in support of research needs, as well as to replace missing or damaged volumes, or to fill in identifiable gaps in the collection. Occasional acquisition of out of pr int material.
    • Geographical Range: Primarily United States, Europe, Asia, and India.
    • Types of Material Included: Monographs, journals, proceedings, annuals, reference tools, web resources, microforms and dissertations. Limited purchase of audio-visual materials. Excluded: Textbooks, that focus on low level introductory mathematics.


  • Areas of Distinction
    Brown has been acquiring materials to support mathematics since its founding, making the retrospective collection quite strong. From very early works found in the Special Collections, to the most current works published, the whole collection serves as an area of distinction. Of significance is the coverage of titles published in Europe, especially those published during the late 1800's and the first half of the 1900's. The collection currently holds all of the major titles published in all fields of mathematics.

  • Special Collections
    Lownes Collection of Significant Books in the History of Science contains over three-quarters of those texts recognized by scholars as the "great books" of science published since the middle of the 15th century. This collection is held at the John Hay Library.

    John Hay Library History of Science Collection is a major source for the history of mathematics.

  • Related Collections
    Brown is a member of the Center for Research Libraries, which "operates a global cooperative collection development program that assists academic and research libraries in making otherwise inaccessible and important research materials permanently available to scholars and researchers." CRL holds collections of international journals, newspapers and dissertations. For further information, check with the Interlibrary Loan Office (Phone: (401) 863-2750; Email: sci-ill@brown.edu

  • Selected List of Key Internet Resources