The Library is mindful of its role as an archival collection for the social sciences. Where the principles set out above cannot be met through the acquisition of materials in electronic format alone, a copy in print format will be acquired. The Library collects significant material in the social sciences on a worldwide basis, paying particular attention to the integrated and interdisciplinary approach of the School. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and its publications means that the boundaries of any particular subject or discipline cannot be easily determined and described in isolation. For the purpose of collection development, a 'core area' of specialisation within the social sciences is defined for intensive collection.

Within this core area collection is to research level, i.e. to a level where independent research in the published sources can be pursued. Politics, economics and social studies form the nucleus which embraces, for example, the political, economic and social aspects of anthropology, geography, law and philosophy. Aspects of these and other subjects which fall outside the 'core' may be excluded (eg. physical anthropology and geography), or collected more selectively to research level (eg. sociolinguistics). 

Percentage per day usage of library by teachers and students: