LIBRARY COLLECTION POLICY STATEMENTS

I. PROGRAM INFORMATION

Biosystems Engineering is part of the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Biosystems Engineering. The Department consists of a multidisciplinary faculty covering biotechnology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biosystems engineering, and food science. The Department seeks to develop and apply state-of-the-art techniques in molecular and cellular biology and biotechnology to problems in tropical agriculture.

The Department offers a BS and an MS in Biosystems Engineering. Research areas include management of wastes and wastewater from agricultural and food industries; engineering for cell culture, fermentation, micropropagation, and bioconversion; engineering-intensive horticultural systems; engineering-intensive aquatic biosystems; modeling and optimization of bioresource production and processing systems; water management and irrigation system design; spatial decision support systems for environmental protection and resource development; bioremediation; bioenergy systems and thermochemical conversion; and mechanization and automation of tropical crop production, treatment, and processing.

II. COORDINATION OF COLLECTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Biosystems Engineering draws on the literature of the other engineering fields -- civil, electrical, and mechanical, of chemistry, microbiology, and on most of the other disciplines in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). Selection is coordinated with the librarians responsible for these areas. Coordination is also required with the selectors for the Hawaiian and Pacific Collections. Government Documents provides many publications for this department. Duplication of these publications and those held in other collections in the Library is avoided.

III. GUIDELINES TO MATERIALS COLLECTED OR EXCLUDED

Language: Almost exclusively English

Chronological: No limitations, but the emphasis is on current theories and research.

Geographic: Interests of the department are global. However, material specific to the Pacific Basin and tropical regions is sought out. Materials on relevant to cold climates are not selected.

Date of Publication: Current materials are emphasized; gaps are filled as needed.

Types/Formats of Materials Collected: Monographs on current research in the field; serials, including Web access when available; monographic series; handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and directories; bibliographies; indexes and abstracts with a preference for Web access; conference proceedings; selected United States and foreign dissertations.

Treatment: All treatments are included, with the exception of popular works and textbooks. Both research and applied aspects are collected.

Date compiled: 7/01 Compiler: Eileen Herring

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