Description
The collection is maintained by the Modern Languages and Linguistics Library.
The Scandinavian Languages & Literatures collection supports the instructional and research programs of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures involving the literature and language studies of Old Norse/Icelandic, runes, and the historical and current literatures and Faeroe Islands. The Scandinavian collections, strongest in the areas of Old Norse-Icelandic language and literature, are considered by most scholars to be outstanding and to rank among the top ten North American libraries with collections in these areas. The collections were built up significantly by prominent professors, notably Henning Larsen, George Flom, and Philipp M. Mitchell. The collection consists of approximately 25,000 volumes. Reference works and a small core collection are held in Modern Languages & Linguistics in the Bookstacks, but many are in the Reference Room, the Rare Book & Special Collections Library, and the Undergraduate Library.
Revised May 2007
Statements
I. Collection Description
Purpose:
To support the instructional and research programs of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures involving the literature and language studies of Old Norse/Icelandic, runes, and the historical and current literatures and languages of Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Faeroe Islands.
History of Collection:
In the early 20th century, Scandinavian studies were taught in the English Department. The collections were built up significantly by prominent professors, notably Henning Larsen and George Flom. The George Flom Library of over 2,000 valuable items was donated in 1941, and the Henning Larsen collection was purchased in 1971. Since 1959, Scandinavian language, literature and cultural studies have been offered regularly through the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.
Estimate of Holdings:
23,475 volumes.
State, Regional and National Importance:
The Scandinavian collections at Illinois are considered by most scholars to be outstanding and to rank among the top ten North American libraries with collections in these areas.
Unit Responsible for Collecting:
Modern Languages and Linguistics Library.
Location of Materials:
Reference works and a small core collection are held in Modern Languages and Linguistics Library. The majority of materials are in the Bookstacks, but many are in the Reference Room, the Rare Book and Special Collections Library, and the Undergraduate Library.
Citations of Works Describing the Collection:
Downs, pp. 113, 206.
Major, p. 59.
II. General Collection Guidelines
Languages:
Primarily Old Norse/Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and English, with selective acquisition of translations of primary source materials as well as secondary criticism in other Western European languages. Only selected items are acquired in Modern Icelandic and Faeroese.
Chronological Guidelines:
No restrictions.
Geographical Guidelines:
Iceland, Finland (Swedish language publications), Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Faeroe Islands.
Treatment of Subject:
Standard statement. Materials have subject focus on some aspect of the Scandinavian languages and literatures. In addition, juvenile literature is acquired very selectively; however, it is given greater emphasis when the authors are important literary figures.
Types of Materials:
Standard statement.
Date of Publication:
Standard statement.
Place of Publication:
No restrictions.
III. Collection Responsibility by Subject Subdivisions with Qualifications, Levels of Collecting Intensity, and Assignments
Below is a table that lists specific subject subdivisions within the collection. Each row in the table lists a specific subject subdivision, followed by three columns noting: Collection Strength, Primary Assignments and Secondary Assignments. The Existing Collecting Strength column notes how well the existing collection covers that topic on a 1 to 5 scale with 5 being very strong. The Primary Assignments column lists departmental libraries that have the greatest collection intensity of subject materials, respectively. In the case of 2 or more libraries listed, the collection intensity is comparable. The Secondary Assignments column list departmental libraries where additional materials may be found.
| Scandinavian Languages & Literature Collection | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SUBJECT SUBDIVISIONS | EXISTING STRENGTH | PRIMARY ASSIGNMENTS | SECONDARY ASSIGNMENTS |
| SCANDINAVIAN LANGUAGES: | |||
| Histories of the Languages | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Old Norse/Icelandic | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Modern Icelandic | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Danish | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURES: | |||
| Secondary Studies: | |||
| Danish literature—History and criticism | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian literature—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish literature—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Danish poetry—History and criticism | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian poetry—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish poetry—History and criticism | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| Danish drama—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian drama—History and criticism | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish drama—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Danish fiction—History and criticism | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian fiction—History and criticism | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish fiction—History and criticism | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| Original Literary Works: | |||
| Old Norse/Icelandic literature | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Modern Icelandic literature | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| Faeroese literature | 1 | Scandinavian | |
| Swedish literature: | |||
| Medieval period | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| Reformation period through: | |||
| 18th century | 1 | Scandinavian | |
| 19th century | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| 20th century | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| Danish literature: | |||
| Medieval period | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Reformation period through: | |||
| 18th century | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| 19th century | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| 20th century | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Norwegian literature: | |||
| Medieval period | 4 | Scandinavian | |
| Reformation period through: | |||
| 18th century | 2 | Scandinavian | |
| 19th century | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| 20th century | 3 | Scandinavian | |
| SCANDINAVIAN CULTURE AND THOUGHT: | |||
| Scholarly works | 3 | History | Scandinavian |
| Popular treatments | 3 | Scandinavian | Undergraduate |
| International Cinema—Scandinavian | 4 | Scandinavian | |
Version Date: November 2005