For some MSI research, materials on non-biological marine topics are also acquired, including materials on physical, chemical and geological oceanography. Although English is the primary language, materials in other languages are acquired as appropriate. Emphasis is on recent research, but for some topics in ecology or systematics, historical treatments are also appropriate. Materials published in the past five to six years are of primary importance for both monographs and serials. Works published earlier are collected selectively.
Reference materials have a high priority in acquisition.
Textbooks are acquired minimally. Electronic versions of materials are also acquired. This is especially and increasingly true for full-text journals. Many requests for older materials are satisfied through ILL, but if the demand is of a continuing nature, the material is considered for acquisition. This is an official University of California, Santa Barbara Library web page.