In comparison to the main collection, the Foreign and International Collection offers a much greater diversity of sources, while serving more specialized needs. Jurisdictional aspects Among foreign jurisdictions, we give priority to Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Mexico is a contiguous jurisdiction and plays an important role in the Houston legal community. We devote a proportionately large share of resources to acquiring Mexican legal materials, as well as materials published elsewhere about the Mexican legal system. The latter category includes all federal and state codes, federal jurisprudencia , and the Diario Oficial .
Canadian materials are next in importance.
We maintain a collection of federal primary legal materials, including the basic statutory materials and case reporters, while endeavoring to minimize duplication. Secondary materials, such as treatises and monographs, on fundamental legal topics and on subjects outlined below, are also acquired. Our United Kingdom collection consists chiefly of retrospective materials that serve to provide a better understanding of the American legal system by way of historical precedent or comparison. Prospectively, we maintain a reference-level collection restricted to essential primary materials and other materials on subjects relevant to the curriculum. It is, of course, neither possible nor necessary for us to maintain a similar level of coverage for the remaining 188 foreign countries.