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. 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. 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.
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.