Purpose: This area is made up of:
1. The A Classification which are general works, such as encyclopedias, yearbooks, directories, handbooks, andMaterials are acquired to support other areas of the classification across the entire curriculum; to provide further access to other material in the collections and to provide the basis for the information needs of the community as reflected in the work of the Libraries’ information services.
indexes for journals in multidisciplinary subjects.
2. The Z Classification which are bibliographies on all subjects, material on the book industry, librarianship and
information resources.
Existing Collection Strength: Much of the material classed in A is held in the Reference Collection and is at the Selective (3) level. Fewer bibliographies are classed in Z; more are published electronically and fall naturally to the specific discipline. The section which deals with the book arts, history of printing, etc. are collected at the Basic (1) level, while librarianship and information resources materials are collected at the Representative (2) level.
Current Collecting Intensity: The collection level of the A (General) part of the classification is Selective (3), though indexes, directories and encyclopedias are increasingly being published with electronic access.
The current collection intensity level of the parts of the Z (Bibliography) classification correspond to those of the subject areas to which they provide access, but fewer printed bibliographies are being purchased as electronic access to subject areas is now common. The other parts of Z are collected at the same levels as the existing collection strength.
Languages Collected: English predominates.
Formats Collected: Monographs, serials, electronic databases.
Access to Journal Articles: Many bibliographical and indexing
tools are produced in electronic format, and access is acquired where possible.
The shift from paper to electronic access is on-going in this area; electronic
databases provide improved access to bibliographical information.
Accessible general bibliographic indexes are considered multidisciplinary
and acquired through electronic databases funding.
Date: May 2001, revised June 2003
Selector Responsible: Peter Higham