SUBJECT COLLECTIONS

• LEVEL 0; OUT OF SCOPE: The library does not collect in this area.

• LEVEL 1; MINIMAL LEVEL: A subject area in which few selections are made beyond very basic works.

• LEVEL 2; BASIC INFORMATION LEVEL: A collection of up-to-date general materials that serve to introduce and define a subject and to indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere. It may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, selected editions of important works, historical surveys, bibliographies, handbooks, a few major periodicals. A basic information collection is not sufficiently intensive to support any courses or independent study in the subject area involved.

• LEVEL 3; INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVEL: A collection that is adequate to support undergraduate and MOST graduate instruction, or sustained independent study; that is, adequate to maintain knowledge of a subject required for limited or generalized purposes. of less than research intensity. It includes a wide range of basic monographs, complete collections of the works of more important writers, selections from the works of secondary writers, a selection of representative journals, and the reference tools and fundamental bibliographical apparatus pertaining to the subject.

• LEVEL 4; RESEARCH LEVEL: A collection that includes the major published source materials required for dissertations and independent research, including materials containing research reporting, new findings, scientific experimental results, and other information useful to researchers. It is intended to include all important reference works and a wide selection to specialized monographs, as well as a very extensive collection of journals and major indexing and abstracting services in the field. Older material is retained for historical research.

• LEVEL 5; COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL: A collection in which a library endeavors, so far as it is reasonably possible, to include all significant works of recorded knowledge (publications, manuscripts, other forms), in all applicable languages, for a necessarily defined and limited field. This level of collecting intensity is one that maintains a "special collection," the aim, if not the achievement, is exhaustiveness. Older material is retained for historical research.

Closely linked to the collecting levels is the language coverage, and the representation of English and foreign language materials is a critical dimension in evaluating and describing collections. Indeed, in many subjects language coverage may determine the appropriate collection level.

The primary purpose of the language codes is to indicate the language priorities and limitations that govern the library's collecting policies. As with the collection levels, language coverage must be viewed within the context of the existing publications and must be based on an evaluation of the universe of publishing output in the field. The following language codes should be used in conjunction with the collection level codes:

• Language Code E: English language material predominates; little or no foreign language material in the collection.
• Language Code F: Selected foreign language material included, primarily European, in addition to the English language material.
• Language Code W: Wide selection of material in all applicable languages.
• Language Code Y: Material is primarily in one foreign language.

SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDELINES

Sound Recordings

Instead of Language Codes, use the codes listed below:

1. Major U.S. and European labels easily obtainable from American dealers.
2. Broad selection of North American labels and European direct imports.
3. Wide selection of commercial recordings issued throughout the world.

Documents

1. The Scope of I.G.O. and National Government Documents

   The subcommittee on government documents has sought to include in the national documents conspectus all identifiable independent nations, as well as some few jurisdictions which are less than fully independent but which seem especially significant (e.g., Hong Kong). In doing this we have drawn upon the U.N. membership list, the RLIN Country of Publication Codes, and several almanacs. We have attempted to list all jurisdictions by their current names, in the form by which they are most popularly known (Bahrain instead of "State of Bahrain"). Lengthier official versions are used where necessary to differentiate between sovereignties (Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea). Where we have failed in this, we ask that responding institutions note this in their annotations and corrections will be made in compiling returns. Most dependent territories are not listed separately. It was the subcommittee's recommendation that these would best be described under the heading for the independent country exercising jurisdiction over them (Puerto Rican documents under the United States, and the Ryukyu Islands under Japan, for instance).

   Historical countries (i.e., those no longer in existence) are not listed separately. Collection strengths for these countries should be noted on the lines for the countries which succeeded them (the Kingdom of the Hejaz within Saudi Arabia, for instance).

   Although all publications emanate from the government in centrally planned economies, those that fall within the scope of this conspectus are listed in II A.

   The intergovernmental organizations listed in the I.G.O. category are drawn from lists of the most significant I.G.O's prepared by the documents librarians of "RLG I." Some of these I.G.O's publish very little. Others may be included which some libraries consider insignificant and, alternatively, some may be omitted which members feel should be added. Libraries should add any I.G.O.'s they consider significant, with collection values. Those added by a preponderance of the responding institutions can be included in a revised conspectus, as has been done with other conspectus divisions.

   The League of Nations has been listed separately.

2. Guidelines for Assessment of Collection Intensity Indicators in Government Documents Conspectus

   1. Definition of Categories to be Included

      In "RLG I" the government documents group, in attempting to define what documents content should be understood in primary collecting responsibilities, identified the following as basic categories of documents (this is NOT an exhaustive list):

      1. Executive and legislative documents not otherwise specified below.
      2. Annual reports of governmental departments and subdivisions.
      3. Statistical publications, including census material.
      4. Development plans.
      5. Major special commission reports and studies.
      6. Bibliographies of government publications.
      7. Parastatal organizations. (i.e., state corporations and semi-public enterprises)
      
      

   2. Levels of Collecting for I.G.O.'s

      Although the nomenclature may differ, most I.G.O's have organizational units and publications roughly analogous to those of national governments listed above. The following definitions are offered as guidelines for I.G.O. collecting levels:

      • LEVEL 1: founding charter; descriptive brochure; publications lists.
      • LEVEL 2: the above plus: annual report; general periodical; basic statistical computations.
      • LEVEL 3: the above plus: major monographs; monographic series; specialized serials; conference proceedings; special statistical compilations.
      • LEVEL 4: the above plus: documents, budget, proceedings of the organization; working papers; technical reports.
      • LEVEL 5: the above plus: everything that can be acquired.
      
      

   3. Levels of Collecting for National Documents

      Drawing on these categories, the subcommittee suggests the following definitions in using RLG collection intensity indicators:

       

      • LEVELS 1 and 2: Relatively basic, introductory collections insufficient to support sustained research.
      • LEVEL 3: Collect significant documents in categories II A, 2-7, on a more selective basis than level 4, to serve most local instructional and research needs.
      • LEVEL 4: Acquire (as a minimum) all significant documents in basic categories II A, 2-7, supplemented by a broad range of documents in category II A 1.
      • LEVEL 5: Acquire all significant government publications of research value. It is unlikely that many, or any, level "5" collections exist, except in very narrowly defined and limited fields (for example, 4E for U.S. documents, 5E for publications of the U.S. forest service).

Cartographic Materials

Cartographic materials are defined as all materials that represent, in whole or in part, the earth or any celestial body. These include two- and three-dimensional maps and plans (including maps of imaginary places); aeronautical, navigational, and celestial charts; atlases; globes; block diagrams; sections; aerial photographs and other remote sensing imagery; bird's-eye view views (map views); etc. The latter two categories include only those with a cartographic purpose, i.e. high-angle views in which a street grid pattern or other similar "map-like" features are shown. Lower-angle views, such as those which show a profile of a city without clearly discernable street patterns, are considered to be pictorial materials, and fall outside the scope of this definition.

All cartographic materials are included in the collection level definitions given below, e.g. general and thematic maps, atlases, topographic maps, and aerial photography/remotely sensed imagery. Differing values for topographic maps (TOPO) and aerial photography/remotely sensed imagery (RSI) should be included as specially formatted notes.

Example: G7530-7534 Saudi Arabia 3/3 TOPO: 2/3; RSI 2/4

Where no distinction is made, it is assumed that all three components are collected at the same level.

Collections whose holdings are predominantly retrospective or current should also include a note indicating the period collected. For example, 1961 - Present, 1901 - 1960, 1801 - 1900, Up to 1800. Particularly comprehensive collections should also be noted.

Example: G4020-4024 Oklahoma 3/3 TOPO: 2/2; 1900 - Present

Lastly, also use the notes field to indicate the country or source of origin for appropriate materials if such factors are unusual or important.

• LEVEL 0; OUT OF SCOPE: The library does not collect in this area.

• LEVEL 1; MINIMAL LEVEL: A collection in which very few selections are made beyond the most basic general maps and atlases of an area.

• LEVEL 2; BASIC LEVEL: A highly selective collection which serves to introduce and define an area, and to indicate the varieties of materials available elsewhere. It includes selected general thematic maps, plans of a capital or major city, and only the major atlases of the area. Topographical maps: physical maps (sometimes referred to as small scale topographical maps or surveys) at scales smaller than 1:250,000. Remotely sensed imagery: 1:1,000,000 or smaller scale satellite imagery.

• LEVEL 3; STUDY LEVEL: A collection which is adequate to support undergraduate and most graduate course work; that is, one which is adequate to acquire knowledge of an area for limited or generalized purposes, of less than research intensity. It includes general thematic maps, plans of major cities, and national, state or provincial and selected thematic atlases of these areas. Topographic maps: small or medium scale topographic surveys at 1:100,000 to 1:250,000. Remotely sensed imagery: satellite imagery and high altitude aerial photographs of medium scale, in the range of 1:60,000-1:120,000 scale or smaller.

• LEVEL 4; RESEARCH LEVEL: A collection which includes the major source materials required for dissertation and independent research. It includes medium scale thematic maps (e.g., 1:100,000-1:250,000) and plans of all significant cities. It includes a strong collection of general and thematic atlases including those of second and third order political divisions and of major cities. Topographic maps: scales of 1:50,000 or larger. Remotely sensed imagery: satellite imagery, and low altitude aerial photographs typically at scales of 1:50,000 or larger.

• LEVEL 5; COMPREHENSIVE LEVEL: A collection in which a library endeavors, so far as is reasonably possible, to include all significant cartographic materials (manuscript and published), in all applicable languages, for a necessary defined and limited area. This level of collecting intensity is that which maintains a "special collection." The aim, if not the achievement, is exhaustiveness.

Standard language codes should be assigned.