The Collections of the Graduate Library

The Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library is the University of Michigan's primary research collection for the humanities and social sciences. Its collection numbers approximately 2.5 million volumes including 10,000 journals and periodical subscriptions written in several hundred languages and covering a broad array of subject specialities. Current selection is focused on the associated disciplines of the humanities and social sciences but historical collections support scholarship campus-wide. Commonly cited collecting strengths of the Graduate Library include English and French local history; papyrology; history and culture of Germany; classical archaeology; military history; English literature; social and political movements; and area studies encompassing South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Near East, and Slavic countries. In addition, these general stacks collections are supported by strong holdings in U.S. and foreign government publications, an outstanding collection of maps and related materials, a comprehensive collection of publications written in the language groups of East Asia, manuscripts and special collections, over 1.5 million items in microformat, and a strong collection of reference and bibliographic sources in print and machine-readable formats.

Collection Development

Responsibility for building and maintaining the collections of the Graduate Library is vested in over 20 subject selectors, who work closely with faculty and students to meet current and anticipated research needs. Graduate Library selectors participate in a broad range of decisions regarding the selection, use and preservation of collections in their areas. Questions related to the policies and practices of collection development in a particular area should be directed to the appropriate subject specialist. More general questions related to the collections can be be addressed to the Coordinator of Graduate Library Collections in 209 Hatcher North, phone 763-1539.

Recommending Titles for Purchase

Purchase recommendations for particular titles can be directed to individual subject selectors or to GL Selection in Room 209 Hatcher.

Recommendations can be sumitted via e-mail to gl.selection@umich.edu or via a web form if, supported by your browser. Print forms for such requests are also available throughout the Library. All patron requests are treated on a priority basis, and patrons will be notified of the action taken by the Library. Titles intended for course reserve for both graduate and undergraduate courses should be ordered through the University Library Reserve Service, 2024 Undergraduate Library (734) 763-9760. New books received by the Graduate Library are displayed in the second floor north corridor.