University of Michigan - Flint

The Geography & Earth Science division supports the curriculum of the Earth & Resource Science Department, which offers undergraduate degree programs in physical geography, resource ecology, and resource planning.

Monographs. The Geography & Earth Science collection holds 1777 monographs, which is equivalent to a 2b, and is 102% of the number from the modified ACRL standard (1747). The median publication date of the books in this division is between 1975 and 1979. Approximately 28% were published in the last decade.

Most of the curriculum enjoys reasonably solid coverage in the collection. Some subjects within the WLN categories do not support courses at UM-Flint, and are therefore not actively developed. This has resulted in category-level CL ratings lower than would seem warranted. For example, the Library collects materials in the WLN categories for geomorphology, hydrology, and geology, but acquires few or no materials for subjects within those categories dealing with regional studies outside North America. Specific areas that need greater support include: geographic thought; natural hazards; techniques; and the geography and geology of Southeast Michigan, the state as a whole, and the Great Lakes region (including maps).

Acquisitions. The 1997/1998 monographs allocation for the Earth & Resource Science Department is $3261. Taking a proportional share of librarians budgets, plus the reference allocation, yields a weighted total of $3952. This is sufficient to buy approximately 74 books at a discounted average price of $53.67 apiece. This amounts to about 10% of the total domestic publishing output for the discipline, for an AC rating of 2b/3a.

Periodicals. There are 42 Wilson-indexed periodical titles in this field, of which the Library has paper subscriptions to 5 (12%=2a) and web access to 7 more (29% total=2a). The journal collection is substantial in geology and surface process, but needs enhancement in regional coverage, remote sensing, and in applications. Relevant electronic indexes are available through FirstSearch include: GeoRefS, GEOBASE, and Environment. The Library also has a number of discontinued runs of print indexes and abstracts.

Prepared by Prof. Randy Repic, Kui-Bin Im, and Paul G. Streby.

Ratings for Geography & Earth Science CL=Current collection level; AC=Acquisitions commitment; GL=Goal level
LC class	Line no.	Category	CL	AC	GL	Comments
G 1 - 922	GEO 001	Geography (General)	2a		3b	No "thought" titles; Wilson-indexed periodical titles=2a
G 1001 - 3122	GEO 001.5	Atlases	2a		3a	Many atlases are dated
G 3160 - 9980	GEO 001.6	Maps	1a		3a	Flint area maps in Microforms Room
GA 1 - 87	GEO 004	Mathematical Geography	1a		2a	Need geostatistics titles
GA 101 - 1999	GEO 005	Cartography	2a		3b	GIS-some titles in computer science collection
GB 1 - 399	GEO 006.5	Physical Geography	2a		3b	Needs update; solid text & journal collection
GB 400 - 650	GEO 006.7	Geomorphology	2a		3b	Good general coverage; regional studies outside North America not collected
GB 651 - 5030	GEO 028.5	Hydrology	1a		3b	New courses offered in watershed & groundwater; regional studies outside North America not collected
GC	GEO 049.5	Oceanography	1a		3b	Some subjects not collected; estuaries, chemical oceanography, & physical oceanography collections need new & updated titles
QC 801 - 810, 850 - 999	GEO 088.1	Geophysics, Meteorology	2a		3b	Need basic meteorology journal & websites; geophysics needs strengthening; weather forecasting weak
QE	GEO 088.5	Geology	2a		3b	General titles need update; submarine geology & electronic data processing need updates; need to acquire Michigan Geological Survey Maps/guides; regional subjects outside N. America not collected; good coverage for many subjects; periodicals=2a
DIVISION AS A WHOLE			2a	2b/ 3a	3b

0 -- Out of scope

1 -- Minimal level
1a ---- Minimal level, uneven coverage
1b ---- Minimal level, even coverage

2 -- Basic information level
2a ---- Basic information level, Introductory
2b ---- Basic information level, Advanced (Appropriate for community college students)

3 -- Study or instructional support level
3a ---- Basic study or instructional support level (Adequate to support lower division undergraduate courses)
3b ---- Intermediate study or instructional support level (Adequate to support upper division undergraduate courses; not adequate for master's degree programs)
3c ---- Advanced study or instructional support level (Adequate to support master's degree programs)

4 -- Research level (Adequate to support doctoral research)

5 -- Comprehensive level