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VISION FOR THE SPANISH RESOURCE CENTER
(A work document for an alternative more efficient organization of the center)
The SRC is anticipated to continue developing as a leading resource and service center
for Spanish language and culture in Southern California. At the heart of the SRC will be
a carefully selected collection of monographs, from early imprints and rare editions to
contemporary works; periodicals and newspapers, both current and retrospective;
archival materials, including manuscripts, photographs, and artifacts; and digital
resources. All materials will be cataloged and available on-line. The Library will also
provide electronic access to other SRC’s in the United States and abroad.
A. Objectives
A.1. To provide a selective collection of monographs in Spanish, English and
other world languages about Spanish language and culture from earliest times to
the present, with special emphasis on educational resources.
A.2. To provide a selective collection of current and retrospective periodicals in
Spanish and other world languages, with special emphasis on education and
cultural endeavors.
A.3. To support information services with a collection of print and non-print
formats of sufficient breadth and depth to fulfill the role of the SRC as a regional
resource, research, and archival center, through independent or mediated on-site
consultation, or instantaneous and interactive remote access.
B. Users and Potential Users
B.1. Primary Users: teachers and students
B.2. Secondary Users: general public
C. Collection Size (Figures are approximate and anticipated on the basis of
current capacity)
C.1. Books, Titles to Be Cataloged
C.2. Periodical Titles
C.3 Non-Print Materials
C.4. Electronic Resources
D. Projected annual growth rate
12,000-15,000
To be determined
To be determined
To be determined
To be assessed
I.
COLLECTION GUIDELINES
A. Collection emphasis in the Spanish Resource Center at USC will be on Spanish
language and culture in its various manifestations. However, the Library will
develop a selective general reference collection. Materials will be cataloged
using MARC record format and classified according to the Dewey Decimal
Classification, as outlined below, with 3-letter languages codes as part of the
classification number, e.g. SPA = Spanish; ENG = English.
000 – 099: General Spanish and multi-language encyclopedias; bibliographies;
almanacs; bound periodicals and newspapers; periodical indexes.
100 – 199: Philosophy; psychology; self-help.
200 – 299: Theology; the Bible; world religions; mythology.
300 – 399: Social sciences; child rearing and education; Spanish peoples in
Diaspora; customs, etiquette, Spanish folkways.
400 – 499: Languages; alphabets; linguistics; dictionaries; grammars
500 – 599: Natural sciences and mathematics
600 – 699: Applied sciences and technology
700 – 799: The arts; biographies of artists and musicians; histories of art and music;
architecture; and music scores
800 – 899: Literature and rhetoric; Spanish classical and contemporary authors;
translated works of outstanding world authors; poetry, drama, essays, letters, satire,
humor; literary biographies, literary history and criticism. (NOTE: Novels and short
stories form part of this category, but will be classified with an FIC code followed by
the author’s last name).
900 – 999: History of Spain from earliest times to the present; archaeology;
exploration and travels; geography; biographies of historic figures.
B. Language guidelines
Spanish and English languages, primarily, and other world languages, as
appropriate.
Materials in a language other than English will be identified by a 3-letter MARC
language code, e.g. ENG for English, SPA.
C. Chronological guidelines
Each language will be represented by materials from all periods of history, with
particular emphasis on Spanish chronology.
D. Geographical guidelines
1. Areas of the world covered: All areas of the world will be covered, with
emphasis on those regions or countries where the Spanish populations have
settled.
2. Representation of publishing output of world nations:
Collection
development depends almost entirely on publishing output of the country or
countries where the particular language or languages are spoken.
E. Treatment of subject
1. Approach: Scholarly and specialized materials will primarily be collected.
Popular treatments will be acquired when they fulfill other collection development
criteria.
2. Level of Audience: The major audience addressed will be adult and young
adult.
F. Types of materials
1. Monographs: will constitute 80% of cataloged materials. These will include
scholarly, specialized, and general popular works. Approximately one-half of
materials will be in Spanish. The other half will be primarily in English. Other
world languages will be included, particularly if the subject covered concerns the
Spanish language and culture.
2. Serials: will include such periodical publications as specialized bibliographies,
indexes, and almanacs
3. Periodicals: will include journals; newspapers; church newsletters and bulletins.
Primary collecting languages will be Spanish and English
4. Encyclopedias: will be the latest print editions of multi-volume and singlevolume works of general informational and subject-specific value, if not available
online.
5. Directories: will include those of international and local Hispanic communities.
6. Maps: will be collected, primarily in atlas form.
7. Manuscripts: may be collected, particularly if specific to the Spanish language
and culture.
8. Photographs: may be collected, particularly as they pertain to the Hispanic
communities of Southern California
9. Archival Materials:
will be retained, particularly records of the SRC’s
establishment, growth and development.
10. Artifacts: Cultural and instructional artifacts will be cataloged and records will
be retained by the Library.
G. Current or Retrospective
Approximately 50% of annual acquisitions will be current; 10%, on replacement or
additional copies of currently available titles; and 40% on missing or never-acquired
retrospective publications, when located through out-of-print searching or available
as reprints.
H. Reference, Circulating, and Multiple Copies
The Library will acquire by purchase, exchange, or donation, at least single copies of
monographs to be cataloged. All materials will be designated for in-library
consultation only. In the case of multiple copies of early imprints and rare materials,
no more than five copies will be retained.
I. Special Collections
1. Early Imprints:
2. Periodicals:
3. Photographs:
II. Strengths and weaknesses
A. Strengths
B. Weaknesses
1. Lack of space and other physical constraints are the greatest limitation to
collection growth and preservation. At present the SRC offers ___ linear
feet of shelving, accommodating approximately ____ volumes. An
additional ____ linear feet is needed
2. Textbooks will be minimally collected and only when they add intellectual
content not available in any other form to the collection.
III. Levels of Collecting Intensity
A. Criteria
1. Collection development guidelines above
2. User demand/need, current and potential
3. Volume of publishing output and availability through gift and purchases
4. Funding considerations
B. Collecting Levels
1. Selecting Reading/Resource Level:
2. Extensive Reading/Resource Level:
3. Comprehensive Reading/Resource Level: Out of scope at present
IV. Other Spanish Resource Collections in the Region and the World
Academic, public, special libraries in Southern California, the continental United States
Other academic, research, public and special libraries of institutions in areas of the
world with concentrations of Armenian population.
SERIAL FORMATS and RETENTION POLICY
Scope: The serials collection of the SRC consists of ____ current titles, including the,
as well as periodical publications of the Ministry of Culture and Education. The
collection is for use in the Library only.
1. Paper Format: Retain current print subscriptions in reading room slant shelving,
as follows:
a. Dailies: 1 month
b. Semi-Weeklies, Weeklies, Bi-Weeklies: 3 months
c. Monthlies or Rare Frequencies: 1 year
NOTE: Convert to formats enumerated below as soon as available, unless
retaining paper because illustrations or other specialized content would lose color
or sharpness of resolution.
2. CD-ROM or On-Line Formats: If full text is available in CD-ROM, on on-line
through the World-Wide Web, discard paper and discontinue current paper
subscription.
NOTE: Retention policy for hard copy (see 1. above) applies
GIFT POLICY
Gift and Exchanges
In addition to materials acquired through purchase with budgeted collection
development funds, the Spanish Resource Center of the Consulate General of Spain in
Los Angeles welcomes, encourages, and accepts gifts that augment its collections,
provide funds for library operations, or support the Library’s programs. Gift offers and
acceptances will be transacted through the Consulate General of Spain. Gifts of
money, books, periodicals, research materials, furniture and equipment contribute to
and enhance the SRC’s valuable resources, services, specialized collections, and
programs. Modest gifts are much appreciated, as are bequests, endowments, and
larger contributions.