The French Area Studies Collection supports instruction and research through the doctoral level in French literature, French phonetics and linguistics, and French culture. Materials are primarily in French and English. Scholarly works in German are occasionally collected. The literature collection focuses on works printed within the past ten years in the areas of the middle ages, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Earlier publications and variant editions are purchased as appropriate.
Interest is primarily in France with a growing interest in North Africa and the Caribbean.
Occasional purchases are also made in the areas of Quebec, Switzerland and Belgium. Monographs form the largest part of the collection. Photoreproductions micoform and electronic sources are occasionally purchased. Major scholarly journals in French and English are subscribed to, as well as some major titles in German. Most reference works are purchased, particularly bibliographies.