RLUK-BL-RIN Challenge Fund Application Document

Strategic relevance

 

  • What research strengths do your collections represent and who is the target audience that in your view would gain from the greater exposure of your collections via Copac?

  • What benefits would your institution gain from such exposure of your collections, and what role does this development play in your strategic plans?

  • What nationally important collections do you hope to support through Copac inclusion?

  • How have you set about assessing the uniqueness and rarity of your material, and therefore the value that it will add to Copac?

  • Are you able to give an estimation of the number of records you wish to add to Copac?

  • Do you receive any public or private funds or awards to maintain your collections?

 

Access and usage

 

  • What are your access policies for academics and researchers who would wish to use your collections, and how are you able to accommodate research activity?

  • How many study places are you able to provide to visitors?

  • Are your collections reference only, or are they amenable to inter-library loan requests?

 

Technical aspects

 

  • What format do you catalogue in (MARC21, UKMARC, Other – please specify)

  • To what level are your printed collections catalogued (e.g., AACR2 level 3, etc.)?

  • What Library Management System are you using?

  • Do you have provenance and binding notes for relevant material in collections where this is a significant element?

  • Is your catalogue already made available online (web interface/openly available Z39.50 target)?

  • Is appropriate holdings information present that could indicate circulation status (reference only, etc.)?

 

Collection descriptions

 

Please describe (in up to 2 pages of A4) the collections that are already catalogued. Emphasis should be placed on what you know about the uniqueness of the material and how to your knowledge it complements other collections in the UK. Please specify whether the collections contain early printed books, post 1850 material, pamphlets, or periodicals. Please also state any information about provenance and binding, where known or relevant to named collections for research purposes. Information on foreign-printed books, books in foreign languages, modern printed books and books in English is also required, as they relate to the collection overall or individual collections, where these are named.

 

Retroconversion

What retroconversion do you currently have planned, and are you able to list, name and describe the collections that you would prioritize under such a process?