The Center for Legislative Development, Center for Women in Government, and Center for Policy Research are affiliated with the department. Some materials are acquired to support the activities of these three Centers. The department works closely with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. Although it is not part of the University Libraries' mission to support the specific research needs of the Rockefeller Institute, researchers at the Institute make use of the University Libraries' collections. The primary language is English though materials in Slavic languages, and to a lesser extent materials in other European languages, are collected.
Materials dealing with the United States are of principal concern.
Materials pertaining to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, countries emerging from the former Soviet Union, Latin America, Africa, China, Pakistan, and India are collected at lower levels. Much of the collection concerning Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the countries emerging from the former Soviet Union are selected by Bibliographers with collection development responsibilities for those geographic areas. Significant works on other countries or geographic areas may be selected. Emphasis is on the acquisition of contemporary materials. The History Bibliographer selects most materials dealing with the historical treatment of politics and government.