Languages English is the primary language of the collection. A course is offered in comparative social policy which includes a visit to either Cuba or China. In order to support this course, a few books in Spanish and Chinese are purchased at the specific request of the faculty member in charge. The primary emphasis of the collection is on social work practice in the United States. Other geographic areas are collected selectively with the intent of providing a sampling of international social work literature.
Primary emphasis is on the twentieth century, particularly contemporary developments.
Usually nothing over ten years old is acquired unless it has historical significance for the curriculum. Date of Publication Collection development is concentrated on the acquisition of current imprints. There are occasional retrospective selections. The Social Work Library collection can be accessed online as part of Quest , the Boston College Libraries' catalog. Check the location of an item to determine whether it is part of the Social Work Library collection.