SPEC Kit 324: Collecting Global Resources · 119
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Collection Development Policy. Hawaiian Collection
Collection Development Policy
HAWAIIAN COLLECTION
University of Hawaiÿi at Mänoa Library
Revised June 2008
I. PROGRAM INFORMATION
The Hawaiian Collection of the University of Hawaiÿi at Mänoa began in 1907, a year
after the founding of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now the University
of Hawaiÿi), when the library purchased $350.00 worth of books about Hawaiÿi from a
Honolulu bookstore. In 1927, 1,500 books were set aside into a separate Hawaiian
Collection. Janet Bell, a University of Hawaiÿi graduate, became the first Hawaiian
Collection librarian in 1935. At her retirement in 1970, the collection had grown to over
50,000 volumes.
As of 2006, the collection numbered 60,828 titles in 146,289 volumes, of which more
than 2,200 are currently received serials. There are over144 feet of ephemera, and large
collections of audiovisual media in numerous formats. Other formats such as microfilm
are not counted by collection.
The Hawaiian Collection is the world's most comprehensive library of current and
retrospective materials pertaining to Hawaiÿi. All formats, languages, levels and
treatment are collected. While all aspects of Hawaiÿi are of interest, special emphasis is
placed on acquiring materials on Hawaiian studies (i.e. pertaining to native Hawaiians),
ethnic studies of the peoples of Hawaiÿi, the Hawaiian language, and the history and pre-
history of Hawaiÿi. The collection serves the students and faculty of the University of
Hawaiÿi, including those participating in University of Hawaiÿi distance education
programs, and a growing number of local, national and international users who are
researching Hawaiÿi.
The collection supports teaching and research on Hawaiÿi at all levels. Numerous
academic departments offer courses on Hawaiÿi or curricula that include Hawaiÿi-focused
components. The Hawaiÿinuiäkea School of Hawaiian Learning is comprised of the
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