University of Waterloo Library
The accompanying Collection Development Policy statement is submitted by the Liaison Librarian for the School of Optometry and is approved by the undersigned.
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Associate University Librarian, School Director
Information Resources & Services
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Liaison Librarian Faculty Library Representative
Date:
University of Waterloo Library
Collection Development Policy statement for the School of Optometry.
Completed
Persons Responsible for Collection
The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian in consultation with the Faculty Library Representative.
Department Description and Purpose
To library collection supports the curriculum and research needs of students and faculty in the School of Optometry from the undergraduate level through the PhD level.
The undergraduate professional accredited program (Doctor of Optometry - OD) includes visual optics, visual neurophysiology, and clinical techniques along with the health and diseases of the visual system. The first 2 years of the program focus on the basic sciences of health, disease, optics and visual sciences. The final 2 years concentrate on clinical techniques including practice management, binocular vision, community health, environmental vision, contact lens practice, spectacle applications, pharmacology, electrodiagnosis, primary care, low vision, ocular health, geriatrics, and pediatrics.
The School of Optometry also offers a MSc and PhD program in vision science. Emphasis is on Biomedical Ocular Research, Contact Lenses, Low Vision Rehabilitation, Optometric Education and Practice, Vision and Ophthalmic Standards, Visual Development and Refraction Correction.
The physical collection is housed in the Witer Learning Resource Centre (WLRC) in the School of Optometry. The WLRC collection includes the library funded collection and the School supported archival thesis collection, specialized pre-clinic materials, and course specific equipment.
Scope of Coverage
Because the University of Waterloo, School of Optometry is the only English speaking school in Canada, the library collection must be as extensive and inclusive as possible. Materials relating to all areas of current vision science are collected. Basic reference materials in human biology, clinical medicine, diagnosis of disease, and pharmacy are also collected.
English language materials are preferred. Materials in other languages are considered on an individual basis. Publications from North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia/New Zealand are emphasized. Materials from other geographic locations are considered.
Historical materials are not actively collected. Instead, the School of Optometry Museum focuses on this area.
Types and Formats of Materials Collected
Print and electronic (Web based, CDROM / DVD) formats are collected and PDA formats may be selectively purchased as needed.
In addition to books, journals and indexes, other formats collected include technical, government and professional association reports, conference proceedings, image databases, study and exam guides, diagnostic atlases, standards, pharmacopoeias, and reference materials.
Subjects Collected
All collections are systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that essential and important resources are retained. Because of the unique nature of the collection within Canada, superseded editions and titles containing outdated information are withdrawn only after extensive consultation with faculty. Most retrospective materials are retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research and the importance to the history of Optometry teaching within Canada.
The following subject list provides some detail to the subjects collected. The levels of collecting listed alongside the subjects are described below. Each level of collection includes the level below.
Levels of Collecting
Out of Scope
Materials to support research and curricula in this subject area are not covered in this Collection Policy Statement. Coverage of interdisciplinary subject areas and topics linked across departments can be identified with references to other Collection Policy Statements.
Basic Information/Reference Level
The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important reference works, general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited selection of representative general periodicals are collected.
Instructional Support Level (Undergraduate)
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study. Materials collected include a wide range of reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection of monographs and periodicals. Access to owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including texts, journals, data sets, etc. is provided.
Research Level
The collection includes major published source materials required for master’s degree programmes, doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including appropriate foreign-language titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs, archival materials, and back-runs of serials are acquired as necessary.
NOTE: Each level includes the level that precedes it. For example, research includes both instructional and basic levels of collection which means I would collect everything resources geared towards introducing and training professional optometrist and supporting research on the topic.
Disease Management
Basic Medical Sciences
· Human anatomy (gross and ocular) Research level
· Human histology & ultrastructure(general and ocular) Research level
· Human embryology and visual development (general and ocular) Research level
· Human systems physiology Instructional level
· Cellular and molecular biology, including genetics Instructional level
· Neurobiology (anatomy and physiology) Instructional level
· Medical microbiology Instructional level
· General pathology Instructional level
· General and ocular pharmacology Instructional level
· General and ocular immunology Instructional level
Organ Systems & Disease
· Systemic disease,including neuro-ophthalmic disorders Research level
· Clinical medicine, including laboratory medicine Instructional level
Ocular Disease (anterior segment disease, posterior segment disease, glaucomas)
· Epidemiology Research level
· Pathophysiology Research level
· Genetics Research level
· Diagnosis & management Research level
Sensory-Motor Management
Visual Perception
· Physical & visual space Research level
· Resolution (spatial & temporal) Research level
· Contrast sensitivity Research level
· Colour vision Research level
· Dark & light adaptation Research level
· Deprivation & amblyopia Research level
Binocular Vision & Oculo-Motor System
· Ocular motility (normal, abnormal, epidemiology, clinical manifestations & management strategies)
o Fixation Research level
o Version Research level
o Vergence Research level
o Nystagmus Research level
· Binocular vision (normal, abnormal, epidemiology, clinical manifestations & management strategies)
o Heterophoria Research level
o Strabismus Research level
o Accommodation Research level
o Stereopsis Research level
o Aniseikonia Research level
Refractive Management
Optics
o Geometric & physical Research level
o Visual Research level
o Ophthalmic (spectacles) Research level
o Contact lens Research level
Refraction techniques Research level
Ophthalmic Lasers & Refractive surgery Instructional level
Professional Practice
· Healthcare communication Research level
· Professional ethics Research level
· Jurisprudence Instructional level
· Practice management Instructional level
Clinical Practice
General clinical examination techniques
· Refraction Research level
· Binocularity & ocular motility Research level
· Ocular health assessment Research level
Additional testing
· Perimetry Research level
· Ocular imaging (photography, ultrasound, Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph: HRT, Optical Coherence Topography: OCT) Research level
· Visual electrophysiology (electroretinogram, visually evoked potential, electro-oculogram) Research level
· Medical work-up (Computed tomography: CT Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRI, medical labs) Instructional level
Public health optometry & environmental vision Research level
Paediatrics & gerontology
· Epidemiology Research level
· Examination techniques Research level
· Management Research level
Low vision
· Epidemiology Research level
· Examination techniques Research level
· Low vision aids Research level
· Rehabilitation/Management Research level
Clinical reasoning
· Evidence-based medicine Instructional level
· Clinical decision making Instructional level
Other Resources Available
The Library explores opportunities for collaborative purchases with the Ontario Council of University Libraries, the Canadian Research Knowledge Network. For Optometry, collaborative purchase opportunities with other health networks in Ontario and Canada and the Association of Vision Science Libraries (AVSL) are also considered.
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