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ATTACHMENT A: CONSPECTUS COLLECTNG LEVEL DEFINITIONS
Conspectus uses a Collecting Level Indicator (0-5), and Language Code (E, F, W or Y) to provide an overview, or summary, of a library's Current Collecting Level (CL); Acquisition Commitment (AC), and Collecting Goal (GL). Provision is also made for inputting data on Preservation Commitment (PC). Libraries can also supply additional information about strong collections, notable items in the collection, number and median age of items held, and the selection policy for a particular part of the collection.
Current Collecting Level (CL)
Current collecting level or existing collection strength, includes material in all formats. It reflects those materials that are catalogued and uncatalogued, housed in special collections, and non-circulating as well as circulating collections. An assessment of the current (or existing) collection provides a description of the library's total resources at a prescribed point in time.
Acquisition commitment (AC)
Acquisition commitment, or current collecting intensity, describes the growth rate of the collection and reflects the current level of activity at which the collection is being developed.
Goal Level (GL)
Goal level, or desired collecting intensity, designates a future, desirable collecting level to meet program needs. These represent a library's aspirations and can be described in collection development policies and collecting agreements.
Conspectus definition of Collection Level Indicators
In the Conspectus system, each subject area in a library is analysed for its breadth and scope in terms of standard descriptions of collection, and the appropriate collection level indicator is assigned. Where a level is subdivided, libraries have the option to apply the level indicator at either the broad level (2) or the subdivided level (2a, 2b) as indicated below.
The collection level indicators and descriptions are:
Level 0 - Out of scope
The library does not collect in this area.
Level 1 - Minimal
Few selections made beyond introductory/very basic material.
Level 1a - Minimal with uneven coverage
Few selections made; uneven representation of a subject.
Level 1b - Minimal with even coverage
Few selections made, but key authors, some core works, or a spectrum of views are represented.
Level 2 - Basic information
Collection of up-to date materials which introduce and define a subject and indicate the variety of information available elsewhere. The collection may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, appropriate bibliographic databases, standard and significant works, handbooks, manuals, films, sound recordings and a few popular or major serials.
The collection can support general enquiries, school and some undergraduate instruction and information and a popular level, but is not sufficiently intensive to support advances undergraduate courses.
Level 2a - Basic information: introductory
Includes basic reference sources and explanatory works, such as textbooks; history of a subject, general works on the subject; selective major periodicals.
The collection will support clients wishing to locate general information on a subject or students enrolled in introductory level courses.
Level 2b Basic information: augmented
Includes basic information on a wider range of topics and with more depth. There is a broader selection of basic explanatory works, historical descriptions, reference sources and periodicals which introduce and define the subject.
The collection will support students in basic courses as well as supporting the basic information needs of clients in public and special libraries.
Level 3 - Intermediate
Contains a broad range of resources adequate to support undergraduate and most graduate instruction, sustained independent study, work based interests or specialised enquiries. Adequate to impart and maintain knowledge of a subject at less than research intensity.
The collection includes a wide range of basic works, fundamental reference works and bibliographical works, significant number of classic retrospective materials, complete collections of works of more important authors, selections from the works of secondary writers, selection of representative periodicals, access to appropriate databases.
Level 3a - Intermediate: introductory
Provides resources adequate for imparting and maintaining knowledge about the primary topics of a subject area. Includes a broad range of basic work, classic retrospective materials, all key journals on primary topics, selected journals and seminal works on secondary topics, fundamental reference sources and bibliographical works, and access to appropriate databases.
The collection will support undergraduate instruction, as well as most independent study and work-based needs of the clientele of public and special libraries. It is not adequate to support postgraduate courses.
Level 3b - Intermediate: augmented
Provides resources adequate for imparting and maintaining knowledge bout the primary and secondary topics of a subject area. Includes a significant number of seminal works and journals on the primary and secondary topics in the field; a significant number of retrospective materials; a substantial collection of works by secondary figures; works that provide more in depth discussions of research, techniques and evaluation; the fundamental reference sources and bibliographical works and access to appropriate databases.
The collection is adequate to support all undergraduate and most graduate course work, as well as the more advances and independent study and work based needs of the clients of public and special libraries.
Level 4 - Research
Contains both current and retrospective resources, with historical material retained. Will provide materials in all appropriate formates and languages, including original material and ephemera; all important reference works. a wide selection of specialised monographs, a very extensive collection of journals and immediate access to bibliographies, abstracting and indexing services in the field. materials containing research findings and non-bibliographic databases.
The collection supports postgraduate and independent research and includes all the major published source materials required.
Level 5 - Comprehensive
Includes, as far as is reasonable possible, all significant works of recorded knowledge (publications, manuscripts, other forms) in all applicable languages, for a necessarily defined and limited filed. This level of collecting intensity is one that maintains a special collection; the aim, if not the achievement, is exhaustiveness.
Language Coverage Codes
Language coverage codes give an indication of the representation of English and foreign language materials within a subject. They allow a library to qualify and amplify the collection level indicators . The codes used are:
E: Principally English language material; little or no material in other languages.
F: Principally English-language material, but with a selection of material in other languages.
W: Wide selection of materials in all applicable languages.
Y: Principally in one or more languages other than English from one linguistic or geographical area.
Last modified: April 30 2009.
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