II. General Collection Guidelines:
A. Languages: English is the primary language of the collection. Critical, historical, theoretical, textual and bibliographical studies in other languages are widely acquired, both in the original and in English translation. When an English translation is available, it is preferred and the original is usually not purchased. French, German, Italian and Spanish are purchased on the broadest basis while other European languages, including Russian, are purchased on a selective basis. Little is acquired in Oriental languages. Translations of literature from English into other languages usually are not purchased except for special collections which have their own criteria. Translations of literary works from other languages into English are purchased as necessary to support curricular and general reading interests.B. Chronological Guidelines: No limitations.
C. Geographical Guidelines: Literatures in English from the following areas, listed in order of general priority or interest, are collected: United States, British Isles, West Indies (See Benson Latin American Collection Statement), Africa, Canada, Australia/New Zealand, South Asia.
D. Treatment of Subject: Critical, historical, theoretical, textual, and bibliographical studies of the literatures, and of individual authors and scholars, are collected at the same level as the literatures. All literary genres are included. Performing editions of plays usually are acquired by the Fine Arts Library only, unless the text is available only in this form. Manuals of style, guides to professional authorship and literary marketing, and works on the legal aspects of copyright are purchased selectively. Literary works that were or are popular (widely read) are acquired according to the emphasis shown by the collection level for that chronological period; however, critical, biographical, and historical studies written in a popular style are not usually purchased. Juvenilia by major writers usually are acquired. Anthologies and readers are acquired very selectively. Writing handbooks intended for undergraduate instruction are not acquired.
E. Types of Materials: Materials may be purchased in the original edition, in reprint, or in microform, as availability, cost, and (in the case of periodicals) completeness of file dictate. Current periodicals of a creative nature are acquired selectively. Unpublished dissertations and theses are selectively acquired, according to specific research interests. Recordings of literature, films, and videocassettes are covered in the Audio Visual Library Statement. Other relevant non-book material, such as manuscripts and broadsides, fall within the purview of special collections.
F. Date of Publication: No limitations.
G. Other General Considerations: The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center maintains distinguished special collections in English and American literature and theater arts which support advanced research in English and American literature by both campus and visiting scholars. Since approximately 1985, The University of Texas Libraries has been acquiring a special collection of science fiction, which is housed in PCL. History and criticism of the theatre is located in the Fine Arts Library; see the Theatre and Dance Statement for details. Literature of the West Indies in English is considered in the Benson Latin American Collection statement. French Canadian literature is included in the French Literature Statement. The Grattan Collection in the Humanities Research Center contains selective but distinguished holdings in the literature of the Southwest Pacific. Writings by Texas authors are intensively collected by the Center for American History.
III. Observations and Qualifications by Subject and LC Class:
| Subject | LC Class: See Footnote 1 | Location | CDP [NCIP] Collection Level | Bibliographer |
| Theory, Authorship, History | PN 1-79 | PCL | C | English |
| Exception: Criticism | PN 80-99 | PCL | D | English |
| Literary history: Romance and Germanic Literature | PN 801-840 | PCL | - | See appropriate statement |
| Black and other literatures, comparative literature, folk literature, special topics | PN 841-1008 | PCL | C | English |
| Juvenile literature: history and criticism | PN 1009 | Lib. Sch. | - | See Library Science Statement |
| Poetry: theory, philosophy, etc. | PN 1010-1551 | PCL | C | English |
| Performing arts: Show business. Drama | PN 1560-1988 | FAL | - | See Theatre and Dance Statement |
| Broadcasting: Radio, TV, Motion Pictures | PN 1909-1999 | PCL | - | See Radio-TV-Film Statement |
| Theatre: General | PN 2000-2308 | FAL | - | See Theatre and Dance Statement |
| Theatre: Latin America | PN 2309-2554 | BLAC | - | See BLAC Statement |
| Theatre: various countries | PN 2570-3299 | FAL | - | See Theatre and Dance Statement |
| Prose and Prose Fiction: Theory, Philosophy, etc. | PN 3311-3503 | PCL | C | English |
| Oratory | PN 4103-4355 | PCL | - | See Speech Communication |
| Diaries, Letters, Essays | PN4390-4500 | PCL | C | English |
| Journalism | PN 4699-5650 | PCL | - | See Journalism Statement |
| Exception: Latin American journalism | PN 4931-5106 | BLAC | - | See BLAC statement |
| Collections of General Literature: Various Languages-Proverbs, Quotations, etc. | PN 6010-6790 | PCL | C | English |
| Exception: The Same, in Various Other Languages | - | - | - | See appropriate statement |
| English Literature: See Footnote 2 | - | - | - | - |
| General Collections and History, Special Topics, etc. | PN 1-1369 | PCL | C | English |
| Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman Literature: Early and Middle English | PR 1490-2165 | PCL | C | English |
| Exception: Geoffrey Chaucer | PR 1850-1954 | PCL | D | English |
| Renaissance (1500-1640) | PR 2199-3195 | PCL | D | English |
| 17th and 18th Centuries (1640-1770) | PR 3291-3785 | PCL | C | English |
| Exception: John Milton | PR 3550-3598 | PCL | D | English |
| 19th century (1770/1800- 1890/1900) | PR 3991-5990 | PCL | D | English |
| 20th century (1900/1960 and to present) | PR 6000-6076 | PCL | C | English |
| Provincial and Local Literature | PR 8309-8997 | PCL | B | English |
| Exceptions: Scotland, Ireland | PR 8500-8889 | PCL | C | English |
| English literature outside British Isles and excluding United States | PR 9080-9680 | PCL | B | English |
| Exceptions: Canada | PR 9180-9199 | PCL | C | English |
| Africa | PR 9340-9408 | PCL | C | English |
| Australia/New Zealand | PR 9600-9649 | PCL | C | English |
| American Literature: See Footnote 3 | - | - | - | - |
| General Criticisms and History, Special Topics, etc. | P 1-688 | PCL | D | English |
| Colonial Period (17th and 18th centuries) | PS 700-893 | PCL | C | English |
| 19th Century | PS 991-3369 | PCL | D | English |
| 20th Century (1900/1960 and to present) | PS 3500-3576 | PCL | D | English |
| Exception: Literature of a Popular Nature (e.g. romances, westerns, etc.) | - | PCL | C | English |
Footnote 1:
Organization of Production, Literature
General and Universal: Certain class numbers in the PNs refer to the literature
of a certain language only (e.g. PN 3, periodicals on the general history of
French Literature). These class numbers remain the responsibility of the
appropriate bibliographer.
Footnote 2:
University of Texas Libraries
collections should complement and supplement HRHRC collections.
Footnote 3:
University of Texas Libraries collections should complement and
supplement HRHRC collections.
