Email: pwilliams@auctr.edu
Phone: 404-978-2022
Subjects: English, African-American Studies, Africana Studies, and the African Diaspora World
Subject Area: English Language & Literature
The English language and literature collection at the Robert W. Woodruff Library supports instruction in the English language, English Composition, Creative Writing, English Literature, including African-American Literature concentration, development in Caribbean, Africana, and African Diaspora literatures, Literatures translated into English, World Literature, Classical (Greek and Roman) Literature, and the study of different literary periods at all Atlanta University Center (AUC) schools. In addition to supporting the core curricula of all AUC schools, the English language and literature collection also supports a variety of English degree programs offered by the institutions of the AUC. Clark Atlanta University (CAU)’s English and Modern Languages Department offers a Bachelor’s of Arts in English, Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanities with an English Concentration, and a Minor in English. Morehouse College (MC)’s English Department offers a major and minor in English, a major and a minor in Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Studies (CTEMS), and a minor in Journalism and Sports. Spelman College (SC) offers a major and minor in English and by the school’s definition: “ ‘English’ is a complex field with a variety of applications and intellectual approaches. The successful student of English must be versed in texts from across historical periods and national traditions, and familiar with different methods of producing and interpreting works in varied forms and genres.” The strength of the core collection at the Robert W. Woodruff Library is in British and American literary traditions with special emphasis on African-American literature; however, development of the other literary areas encompassed in English studies is developed based on the AUC school’s course catalogs of the time.
Languages
The overwhelming majority of the English language and literature collection is in English. However, certain limited texts are collected in Old English and related languages. Important works in languages other than English are to be obtained in translation.
Chronological Coverage
There are no chronological limits placed on the English language and literature collection. The collection does have a strength in resources related to the British and American literary periods.
Geographical Coverage
The collection focuses primarily upon English language and literature materials from the United Kingdom and the United States. Materials from nations of the British Commonwealth and World Literature translated into English are also collected. Special emphasis is placed on African and African- American literary traditions.
The core of the English language and literature collection is devoted to materials useful for students of composition, creative writing, British literature, American literature, and African-American literature. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of English, the subject librarian will have consultation with other subject librarians over materials to add to the collection. Examples of subjects consulted but not limited to: History, Philosophy, Religion, Political Science and Women’s Studies. Benchmarks guidelines include the Academic and College Research Library (ACRL)’s documents of Research Competency Guidelines for Literatures in English, Guidelines for Deselecting Literatures in English Collections in Academic Libraries, Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy and Modern Language Association (MLA)’s Preserving Research Collections: A Collaboration between Librarians and Scholars.
Students and faculty members have access to online and print resources for English and related subjects. Members of the faculty are given opportunities to recommend books, journals, and electronic databases. Students and faculty are able to select electronic books appropriate to the English curriculum through the Demand Driven Acquisitions model.
The collection consists of serials, audio recordings, educational videos, films, and other electronic resources. The film collection includes materials on DVD format and streaming through one of the subscribed academic platforms Kanopy and AVON (Academic Video Online). The audio collection contains materials in CD format and electronic materials through RADAR (Repository of AUC Digital collections, Archives, and Research) and various databases. The electronic resources available to faculty and students include a number of databases and electronic journals. Examples of databases include the following: Black Drama, Black Short Fiction, Black Studies Center, Eighteenth Century Collections Online, Nineteenth Century Collections Online, JSTOR, Literature Online Reference, Literature Online, Literature Resources from Gale, MLA International Bibliography, and Project Muse
RWWL does not buy course textbooks: print, electronic, or teacher’s editions. However, the subject librarian will work with teaching faculty and students to identify resources that meet the needs of their classes. Copying pages of textbooks is subject to copyright law which the Library follows. The Library acquires works authored by the AUC English faculties preferably through donation. AUC Faculty can request specific course reserves for electronic or print.
General English and English Composition: https://research.auctr.edu/englishcomp
English Literature: https://research.auctr.edu/englishliterature