From: loken_at_wln.com
WLN is pleased to endorse and to publish the following revision of the
definitions of Conspectus collection depth indicators. As Anthony
Ferguson explains in the introduction, this revision has been the work
of many librarians during the past year. I am grateful to Tony for
spearheading this effort and to everyone who participated.
Revised definitions for WLN Conspectus subdivisions of levels 1, 2 and
3 are in preparation now and will be disseminated as soon as they are
completed.
Sally Loken
Manager, WLN Bibliographic Services
REVISED CONSPECTUS COLLECTION DEPTH INDICATOR DEFINITIONS (1997)
Introduction
The following revised Conspectus collection depth indicator
definitions were developed in 1996 and early 1997 under the auspices
of the Association of Research Libraries with the help of WLN. More
than 30 active Conspectus users from the United States and abroad
worked together to update the original language in a way that would
improve the use of the definitions without diminishing the value of
assessments that had employed the original definitions.
The revised definitions are the result of a conscious attempt to make
them uniformly applicable to all subjects. Consequently, the
definitions are generic. Supplemental guidelines have been and should
continue to be developed to communicate common sets of understanding
about the definitions within the context of a particular subject or
area, e.g., fiction, children's literature, architecture, etc.
The revised definitions also reflect the need to deal more adequately
with non-print and electronic forms of information and
access/ownership issues in collection development.
For topics requiring information in non-print formats at the Basic
Information level and beyond, it is assumed that appropriate visual,
aural and other materials will also be collected, e.g., dance, music,
etc. To determine the appropriate collecting levels for topics in
which non-print resources are essential, add the phrase "appropriate
non-print media" to the line detailing the collecting of monographs
and reference works. For example, Basic Information Level for a music
collection would include "a limited collection of monographs,
reference works and appropriate non-print media materials."
Relevant electronic resources are equivalent to print materials at any
level as long as the policies and procedures for their use permit at
least an equivalent information-gathering experience. Electronic
journals, whether remotely or locally stored, are equivalent to print
journals if
1. access to the electronic resources is at least equal to the print
product;
2. there is access to a sufficient number of terminals; and
3. the information comes at no additional cost to the patron.
Similarly, a full text electronic archive of monographs, periodicals,
images, etc., whether loaded locally or accessed over the Internet, is
also equal to the original format if patron access and cost are equal
or superior.
Document delivery services that are not instantaneous are not the same
as those providing immediate availability on-site or electronically.
The Conspectus measures resources owned by a library and its branches,
if any, or those resources that are immediately accessible. The
Conspectus does not measure what is obtained on a delayed basis from
another library system or vendor, whether the delay is 10 hours or 10
days. Nonetheless, Conspectus users should feel free to provide
details in the Notes Field about library user services which
supplement but do not replace the library's owned resources.
Language Coverage Codes were not revised for this edition.
**********************
Conspectus Collection Depth Indicator Definitions
0 Out of Scope.
Library does not intentionally collect materials in any format for
this subject.
1 Minimal Information Level
Collections that support minimal inquiries about this subject and
include:
*A very limited collection of general materials, including monographs
and reference works.
Periodicals directly dealing with this topic and in-depth electronic
information resources are not collected.
The collection should be frequently and systematically reviewed for
currency of information. Superseded editions and titles containing
outdated information should be withdrawn. Classic or standard
retrospective materials may be retained.
2 Basic Information Level
Collections that serve to introduce and define a subject, to indicate
the varieties of information available elsewhere, and to support the
needs of general library users through the first two years of college
instruction include:
* A limited collection of monographs and reference works.
* A limited collection of representative general periodicals.
* Defined access* to a limited collection of owned or
remotely-accessed electronic bibliographic tools, texts, data sets,
journals, etc.
The collection should be frequently and systematically reviewed for
currency of information. Superseded editions and titles containing
outdated information should be withdrawn. Classic or standard
retrospective materials may be retained.
3 Study or Instructional Support Level
Collections that provide information about a subject in a systematic
way, but at a level of less than research intensity, and support the
needs of general library users through college and beginning graduate
instruction include:
* An extensive collection of general monographs and reference works
and selected specialized monographs and reference works.
* An extensive collection of general periodicals and a representative
collection of specialized periodicals.
* Limited collections of appropriate foreign language materials ---
e.g., foreign language learning materials for non-native speakers or
foreign language materials about a topic such as German history in
German.
* Extensive collections of the works of well-known authors and
selections from the works of lesser-known authors.
* Defined access* to an extensive collection of owned or
remotely-accessed electronic resources, including bibliographic tools,
texts, data sets, journals, etc.
The collection should be systematically reviewed for currency of
information and to for assurance that essential and important
information is retained, including significant numbers of classic
retrospective materials.
4 Research Level
A collection that contains the major published source materials
required for doctoral study and independent research includes:
* A very extensive collection of general and specialized monographs
and reference works.
* A very extensive collection of general and specialized periodicals.
* Extensive collections of appropriate foreign language materials.
* Extensive collections of the works of well-known authors as well as
lesser-known authors.
* Defined access* to a very extensive collection of owned or remotely
accessed electronic resources, including bibliographic tools, texts,
data sets, journals, etc.
Older material that is retained and systematically preserved to serve
the needs of historical research
5 Comprehensive Level
A collection in a specifically defined field of knowledge that strives
to be exhaustive, as far as is reasonably possible (i.e., a "special
collection"), in all applicable languages includes:
* Exhaustive collections of published materials.
* Very extensive manuscript collections.
* Very extensive collections in all other pertinent formats.
A comprehensive level collection may serve as a national or
international resource.
* "Defined Access" footnote (Since e-mail doesn't handle footnotes):
* Defined access means more than simply providing patrons with access
to the Internet and one or more Internet browsers. Defined access
refers to menu options on the library or institution's home page,
etc., which link the user to owned or remotely accessed electronic
resources selected by the library with the needs of its patrons in
mind. The level of defined access changes according to the level of
the collection, e.g., from limited to extensive to very extensive
access to collections of electronic information.
Anthony W. Ferguson
Associate University Librarian
Columbia University Libraries
Tel. 212-854-2270
Fax. 212-222-0331
Net: ferguson_at_Columbia.edu
Received on Sat Mar 22 1997 - 13:24:22 EST