The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Library exists primarily to
support the curriculum of St. John's University. Secondarily, the
collection is a historical record of the insurance industry. A
number of considerations shape our collection policy. Since several libraries covering the life insurance industry
in-depth exist elsewhere, the focus of this collection will
continue to be the property/casualty market. We recognize, however,
that a core life/health insurance collection will be
required. While avoiding constant jumping from one "hot
topic" to another, the environment, weather (global warming and
natural catastrophes)and the implications of economics on the
world's health care policies--on both national and market
levels--are strengths within the collection that will continue to
be maintained The library is supported in part by its annual subscription
members in the insurance industry. Members have an inportant voice
in conjuction with St. John's with input into the depth and breadth
of the material collected and in deciding the lengths to which the
staff will go to secure information located elsewhere. Based on consultation with faculty, members, staff, and
students, the library solicits and encourages active participation
in the selection process. This is accomplished through regular
meetings with interested faculty members and annual reviews of
serial titles (including newspapers, journals, newsletters and
loose-leaf services) prior to subscription renewals.
Recommendations as to electronic databases to which our members
seek access are welcome and encouraged. The library seeks materials in a variety of media: print, audio,
video and electronic. Primary consideration is given to
insurance-related materials. Recognizing the importance of
collecting economic statistics and general business and financial
management texts that will aid in the analysis of the insurance
industry and companies, worldwide, secondary consideration is given
to materials covering these areas. |
All reference materials (general, business and insurance
industry-specific) receive the highest priority. Preference for
newspaper, journal and newsletter subscriptions is given to those
titles indexed and/or abstracted but not available in full-text on
any of the electronic resources subscribed to the library, CD-Rom
or online. Given our large international student population, the library
seeks works that explain the American government, politics and the
democratic principles upon which this nation was founded, as well
as the social structure and fabric of the country. Since attendees
of the Center for International Insurance Studies are often
first-time visitors to the States with limited time for
sightseeing, we continue to purchase maps and tour guides of the
region, pointing out landmarks, unusual architecture and other
points of interest. As one of the largest insurance libraries in the world, we
recognize the importance of both collecting current materials and
maintaining a historical record of the industry over time through
established preservation techniques. The library actively seeks
materials of historical interest and value in the area of insurance
and encourages donations to its collection that will both broaden
the scope of the collection and deepen the knowledge base of
existing resources. As a partial U.S. Government Depository, the library receives a
wide ranging selection of government documents, primarily relating
to insurance regulation and legislation (laws); insurance programs
administered by the government, including flood and crop insurance,
social security, unemployment, Medicare and Medicaid; vital health
statistics (e.g., mortality and natality); statistics on accidents,
catastrophes and safety; and a variety of materials on the general
business climate. To assure a comprehensive yet focused collection
of materials, an annual review of documents available through the
depository program is conducted. An additional consideration in
making our selection is the availability of each item within the
region should we choose not to select it as a depository
item.
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In order to provide our constituency with the widest possible
range of information related to the insurance industry and its
supporting disciplines, the library is committed to working with
other institutions in the industry, and academic and special
libraries both within the US and abroad. Access to the rich and
diverse library resources of the City allows us to concentrate our
efforts on the insurance industry. Our staff participates in international insurance information
activities through active memberships in many different
professional asssociations including The American Library
Association (ALA), the
International Federation for Information and Documentation's
Banking, Finance and Insurance Special Interest Group and two
divisions of the Special Libraries
Association: Insurance & Employee Benefits Division and
Business & Finance Division. Staff is encouraged to build
relationships within library and information associations, write
articles for newsletters and journals, and present papers at
conferences. This policy is reviewed at the close of each academic year and
revised where appropriate in preparation for the beginning of the
fall term.
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