Collection Description Focus, Workshop 4

Collection-Level Description and Collection Management
Tool for the trade or information trade-off?

Friday 8 November 2002
University of Newcastle, Castle Leazes Halls of Residence

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Breakout Groups

Michael Heaney's model (An Analytical Model of Collections and their Catalogues - Michael Heaney, University Library Services Directorate, University of Oxford. http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/metadata/rslp/model/) recognises the role of collection description in supporting both resource discovery and collection management, however the model which he develops concentrates on the discovery function. Since his work, several new initiatives have high-lighted the collection management role including the Full Disclosure Prioritisation Study and the Resource report - 'Preserving the Past for the Future'

The afternoon breakout sessions for Newcastle will look at different aspects of collection management. The aim of the breakout sessions is to focus on three actions, next steps or recommendations for the future.

Breakout Group 1

"There is a widely held view across all three domains that collection level description should be regarded as an essential first step in identifying priorities for more detailed retrospective conversion, cataloguing and documentation" (Full Disclosure Prioritisation Study)

Some areas to consider

• CLDs as a tool to help identify priorities for retro cataloguing and retro-conversion?

• CLDs as a means of reviewing holdings - helping to decide which collections could be passed on to a larger/more relevant collection?

• CLDs as means of looking in a more structured way at accessible format provision - e.g. audio materials, large print, e-books etc?

• CLDS - Potential of bringing to light forgotten collections and then highlighting work that has to be done to make these collections more accessible?

Breakout Group 2

There is a clear need to undertake or complete some form of mapping exercise to identify the size, scope, nature, strengths and weaknesses of collections - is CLD a useful tool for this type of exercise?

• Is CLD a useful tool tool to help map what is available across a range of institutions?

• Can CLDs help to decide on collections policies?

• Mapping collections may help in supporting funding bids?

• CLDs as tool to facilitate deep resource sharing in a collaborative cross-institutional context ?

Breakout Group 3

What skills do staff need in order to be able to complete CLDs?

• What are the barriers to the creation of CLDs?

• Professional and practical?

• Are basic cataloguing skills transferable?

• Training requirements?

• How to encourage a positive buy-in to Collection Description by Information Professionals?