SFU Library Chemistry collections policy

The Department of Chemistry undergraduate program offers degrees in chemistry as well as minor programs in environmental chemistry, nuclear science, biochemistry and chemical physics. The department also offers Master’s and Ph.D. degree programs.

The Department’s research areas are:

  • Materials Science: Chemical Sensors, Data Storage-Molecular Circuitry, Electrochromism/Photochromism, Fuel Cells, Nanoimaging, Liquid Crystals, Lithography, Magnetism, Microelectronics, Nanostructures, Non-linear Optics, Piezo/ferroelectrics, Polymers, Porous Materials, Supramolecular Chemistry, Surface Science, Nanofabrication, Soft Lithography, Catalysis.
  • 4D LABS : Focuses on accelerating the Design, Development, Demonstration and Delivery of advanced materials and nanoscale devices.
  • Chemical and Structural Biology: Bio-organic Reaction Mechanisms, Chemical Senses (taste and smell), Chiral Catalysts/auxiliaries, Computational Methods, C-H Activation Using Engineered Cytochrome P450, Directed Evolution, DNA-chip Technology, Drugs, Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, Enzyme Inhibitors, Glycobiology, Insect Chemical Ecology, Microfluidics, NMR Spectroscopy, Nucleic Acids, Proteomics, Tools for Proteomics, Total Synthesis.
  • TRIUMF: Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. Chemistry research themes include: Radioactive Ions, Free Radicals, Hydrothermal Chemistry and Molecular Magnetism.
  • Chemical Ecology Research Group: devoted to the study of semiochemicals - message-bearing chemicals - with particular reference to insect pests of agriculture and forestry.

Collection intensity

  • 4 Research Level
    • A collection that contains the major published source materials required for doctoral study and independent research includes:
      • A very extensive collection of general and specialized monographs and reference works.
      • A very extensive collection of general and specialized periodicals.
      • Extensive collections of appropriate foreign language materials.
      • Extensive collections of the works of well-known authors as well as lesser-known authors.
      • Defined access to a very extensive collection of owned or remotely accessed electronic resources, including bibliographic tools, texts, data set, journals, etc.
      • Older material that is retained and systematically preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
    • International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. Section on Acquisition and Collection Development. (2001). Guidelines for a Collection Development Policy Using the Conspectus Model.
  • Collection development is the responsibility of the Chemistry Liaison Librarian.  Liaison with the Department is maintained through the Departmental Representative as well as with other faculty members when required.  Regular contact with other Liaison Librarians and teaching Departments is nurtured through the sharing of relevant review material.

SFU resources

  • The W.A.C. Bennett Library is the major location for the University’s chemistry collection.

Regional resources

  • The University of British Columbia Library also has a large chemistry collection comprehending many branches of the discipline.

Consortia and document delivery

  • SFU belongs to three consortia:
    • Electronic Library Network;
    • Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries
    • Canadian Association of Research Libraries.
  • Document delivery agreements exist with all three of these consortia which allow delivery of journals, articles and books from these libraries in a timely manner
  • Holdings and direct requesting from another 40+ libraries are accessible through the Interlibrary Loan webpage and from many databases.
  • SFU is also an partner in the Canadian Research Knowledge Network.

General collection guidelines

  • Language: the emphasis is on the acquisition of materials in English.
  • Treatment of subject: history of, practical, political, computer applications, statistical/mathematical, economics of, business/management/administrative, legal aspects, social aspects, teaching of college or postgraduate level, general.
  • Types of materials: collecting is split between monographs and journals with a preference for ordering online-only journals whenever possible.
  • Date of publication:  emphasis is on current publications.  The acquisition of core texts with older imprints missing from the collection are purchased when funds permit. Retrospective acquisitions are normally for the replacement of core titles which have deteriorated or disappeared.