Auxiliary Sciences of History

Auxiliary Sciences of History

Houston Cole Library

Collection Assessment

Submitted by John-Bauer Graham

May 16, 2002

Introduction

Following guidelines established by the WLN Collection Assessment Services (which provides a framework within which to evaluate a library’s current holdings and the level of activity at which the collection is being developed) the Auxiliary Sciences of History Collection is rated an overall 3aE (Basic Study or Instructional Support Level). Refer to the attached Auxiliary Sciences of History conspectus sheets and the checklist analysis for a more detailed examination of the library’s holdings.

Monographic Assessment

The Auxiliary Sciences of History Collection contains 3,623 monographic titles in the classification(s) C-CT. The number of titles for each subject area is listed below. Please see the attached conspectus worksheet for a more detailed list.

LC Class

/ Divisions, Categories and Subjects /

Totals

C / Auxiliary Sciences of History (general) / 0
CB / History of Civilization & Culture / 1,229
CC / Archaeology (general) / 278
CD / Seals / 233
CR / Heraldry / 155
CS / Genealogy / 446
CT / Biography / 1,189

The following bibliographies were checked against the library’s holdings, reveling the following percentages. See attached checklists for more detailed data about the library’s holdings in specific subject areas within the Auxiliary Sciences of History collection.

Title

/ % Held
Choice’s Outstanding Academic Books / 44.4 %
Guide to Reference Books / 34 %
Books for College Library’s / 75.2 %
ARBA 1998-2001 / 46.4 %

Periodical and Serials Assessment

The Auxiliary Sciences of History collection contains a total of three current print subscriptions and three current standing orders in the classification range C-CT. Back issues are available. The following bibliographies were checked against the library's holdings revealing the corresponding percentages *:

Title / % Held
Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature / 33
Biography Index / 33
Humanities Index / 33

* All three current print subscription titles are available with full text in one or more of the library's electronic databases.

Nonprint Media Assessment

The Auxiliary Sciences of History collection contains 20 audiovisual (AV) titles, or .002% of the total AV holdings. The AV collection of the Auxiliary Sciences of History includes items such as videos, filmstrips, kits, and slide shows. CB classification has 11 filmstrips, 3 videos, and 1 slide show. CC classification has 2 filmstrips, 1 video, and 1 kit. CT classification has 1 video.

Supplemental Support

Holdings in the related subject collections of History, General Works, Geography and Anthropology, Library Science and Bibliography, Political Science, Art, Sciences, Literature, and Education, all provide supplemental support to the Auxiliary Sciences of History collection. Because "biography" is included in the Auxiliary Sciences of History collection, many subject specific fields support the collection by providing specific biographical tools within their respected disciplines. Likewise, "genealogy," "archaeology," and "heraldry," are supported within various humanities and social sciences disciplines.

Access to Electronic Resources (Defined Access)

The library provides both on campus and off campus (registered users) access to numerous databases related to the Auxiliary Sciences of History. These databases offer citations, abstracts, and full text information for research in the Auxiliary Sciences of History. Databases specific to "biography" and "genealogy" include:

Biographies (Access Science)
Biography & Genealogy Master Index
Biography Resource Center
Contemporary Authors
Marquis Who's Who
North American Women's Letters and Diaries

Full text, citations, and abstracts for research in the Auxiliary Sciences of History are also available through several of the library's general periodical and newspaper databases, including (but not limited to):

EBSCOhost
Expanded Academic ASAP (Gale Group)
General Reference Center Gold
ProQuest Newspapers
Newspaper Source
Electric Library
Emerald Fulltext

In addition to providing access to electronic databases, the library maintains a subject list of Internet sites, which have been reviewed and evaluated by faculty and library subject specialists. These lists of subject sites are available through the library's home page, and are readily accessible to anyone with Internet access. Subject areas that support the library's holdings in Auxiliary Sciences of History, are Archaeology, Biographies, Collecting, Genealogy, Names, and Public Records. Each of these areas provides an annotated list of sites relevant to the topics. Several of these sites are indexes to directories and other areas of interest within the subject. Printouts of sites currently listed under Archaeology, Biographies, Collecting, Genealogy, Names, and Public Records are attached.

Summary

Monographic Holdings

Strengths:

The Auxiliary Sciences of History collection is more than adequate to support various courses at Jacksonville State University. The Auxiliary Sciences of History monographic holdings increased from 2,847 to 3,623 since the last assessment (1991). Several C-CT classification sections saw an increase of 100 or more additions since the last assessment. Those sections with a 100 or more increase included: CB History of Civilization and Culture 1,003 to 1,229, CC Archaeology 179 to 278, CD Seals 4 to 233, CT Biography 723 to 1,189. Since October 1997 the Houston Cole Library has added 171 titles and 254 volumes to the Auxiliary Sciences of History collection. These number as they compare to the actual Auxiliary Sciences of History collection can be misleading since several biographical, archaeological, and genealogical sources are added to the collection in other subject specific areas rather than the C –CT’s. Numbers taken from the Bowker Annual and other book trade publications are ineffective because they do not list a category that combines all the works represented in the C-CT classification, nor do they list the specific subjects separately.

Weaknesses:

There are several areas within the C-CT range that remain at or near the level they were during the last assessment (1991). These areas include: Crosses, Boundary Stones, Stone Heaps, Tombs, Heraldry, Personal and Family Name, and Chivalry and Knighthood. The Heraldry collection, which contains information about flags and etc., is outdated. The nature of this subject (like geography) demands that it be kept current. In reviewing the bibliographies and checking the collection, it appears that we are weak in Middle Eastern, Asian, and Chinese biographical sources. It also appears that we should expand the Personal and Family Name collection, to include more ethnic names. Because the subject covers multiple disciplines, the Chivalry and Knighthood section also needs to be updated.

Recommendations:

As the purpose of the Auxiliary Sciences of History Collection is to provide secondary support to other areas in the curriculum the collection activity is more than adequate. However, the library must continue to increase the level of its collection. Since almost all class assignments use the Auxiliary Sciences of History collection for support, it must be maintained. It is necessary to keep the collection current. Additional items should be added in the Chivalry and Knighthood, Heraldry, Biographies (non-English speaking countries), and Personal and Family Names (representing other ethnic groups) collections.

Periodicals

Strengths:

The university does not offer a major or minor specific to any of the subjects or categories within the C-CT classification, therefore the limited current print sources are adequate in providing secondary support to other areas in the curriculum.

Weaknesses:

The collection relies heavily on online databases for lack of Auxiliary Sciences of History print subscriptions.

Recommendations:

Maintain our print subscriptions. Maintain our online database subscriptions to cover Auxiliary Sciences of History related subject areas to keep access at current levels.

Nonprint Media

Weaknesses:

Holdings in this area are weak, and have even declined in numbers since the last assessment of the collection (1991). The collection includes many filmstrips that are outdated.

Recommendations:

Update the collection to include more VHS cassettes, or other audiovisual formats. Weed outdated material and replace copies with current productions.

Electronic Resources (Defined Access)

Strengths:

Subject specific databases such as Biography Resource Center, provide full text, citations, and abstracts for researchers in the Auxiliary Sciences of History related subject areas. The general electronic databases provide access to thousands of full text articles, citations, and abstracts for research in the Auxiliary Sciences of History related subject areas. Databases are available to the entire student population both on and off campus. Also, the library provides a subject lists of Internet sites for Archaeology, Biographies, Collecting, Genealogy, Names, and Public Records. These sites are easily assessable from the library's home page and provide links to many authoritative, useful sites in the Auxiliary Sciences of History related subject areas. These sites available to anybody with Internet access.

Weaknesses:

Often faculty and students are not aware of the increasing number of databases and Internet sites by subject. The databases are subject to change and must be maintained. The library's Internet sites by subject pages must also be maintained. All librarians must constantly evaluate databases and Internet sites.

Recommendations:

Library personnel must keep up to date on all database trials, updates, and additions. Library personnel must publicize any and all collection related happenings, be they databases, monographs, serials, or Internet sites.