Levels of Selectivity
Participants in the Cooperative Acquisitions Programs may limit their acquisitions by defining levels of selectivity which have been established for the more prolific subject categories and for belles-lettres, religion and social sciences in several Indian languages. The following guidelines explain the criteria used in the office to assign books to one of three levels of selectivity.
Selective Set
General Description: This level of selectivity includes the best books on the subject, those which are likely to be of interest to the largest number of South Asian academic programs regardless of their individual teaching and research emphases and to the largest number of users within those programs.
Scholarly and Bibliographic Considerations: Books are substantial new contributions to learning by authors who are considered to be authorities in the subject. Books will be published by distinguished trade publishers, or by reputable publishers who specialize in their field, or are sponsored by major academic, governmental, international or private institutions. Research books will generally include bibliographies and indexes. Creative works and books of literary criticism will have been favorably reviewed, or written by internationally known, established and award winning authors. Reference works will be by recognized authorities in the field, will be comprehensive and constitute a valuable addition to the available reference tools in the subject. Biographies and autobiographies will be by/about internationally known figures, or individuals who have had a major impact on the national scene and contribute new knowledge, new insights, or new interpretations of their subjects' life and contributions.
Importance of subject in the country or in the context of US relations with South Asian countries: Included here will be substantial or influential books which cover topics of current interest either in the context of national life of South Asian countries, or of their relations with the US. Also included will be a select number of the most controversial works on subjects or issues which dominate the national scene or the bilateral agenda, especially if they have had broad coverage in the press or if their authors represent significant minorities or are likely to influence public opinion or government policy.
Distribution: Libraries subscribing to the Selective level of coverage will receive only the books assigned to this category.
Representative Set
General Description: This level of selectivity includes books which, although not basic to knowledge and scholarship on the subject, are still important enough to be of interest to the majority of South Asian academic programs.
Scholarly and Bibliographic Considerations: Books are important contributions to learning by authors with good scholarly or professional credentials. Works will be more narrowly focused than those in the selective category. They may be published by first rung publishers and institutions, or, more often, by publishers less consistently attentive to quality, or who tend to include works by less well known authors and scholars. Publications from regional academic presses, state level government or private institutions, will be provided at this level. Bibliographies may be less comprehensive and not include the most current sources. Creative works or books of literary criticism will be by/about established authors within the different literary traditions. Biographies and autobiographies will be by/about nationally known figures, or individuals who have had a major impact at the state or regional levels.
Importance of subject in the country or in the context of US relations with South Asian countries: Controversial works on topics of current interest either in the context of national life of South Asian countries or of its relations with the US will be distributed at this level. These books will increase understanding of minority issues, local conflicts or subjects which are on the bilateral agenda, even when their ability to influence public opinion or government policy is likely to be minimal.
Distribution: Libraries subscribing to the Representative level of coverage will receive the books distributed under this category, in addition to all the books distributed under the Selective category.
Comprehensive Set
General Description: This level of selectivity includes books with narrow focus and of limited interest, which will be appropriate for libraries with very comprehensive collections on the subject.
Scholarly and Bibliographic Considerations: Books represent limited contributions to scholarship by less well known authors, or interesting contributions by authors not considered to be scholars or specialists. Books are usually very specialized and narrowly focused. Belles-lettres and literary criticism are by/about lesser known authors but on interesting or unusual themes, or by "first time" authors deemed collectible. Doctoral dissertations issued as publications, published reports of research studies, conference papers on very specialized subjects will be placed in this category. Biographies and autobiographies of lesser regional figures (if they contribute to the understanding of the region or the subject of the book) will be distributed at this level.
Importance of subject in the country or in the context of US relations with South Asian countries: Highly controversial and propagandistic works on subjects of current interest in the context of national life of South Asian countries, or of its relations with the US will be included here. Samples of books which illustrate viewpoints and arguments of the "fringes" of opinion in the country will also be distributed at this level.
Distribution: Libraries subscribing to the Comprehensive level of coverage will receive all books selected for the program in all three levels.
Last Updated: July 1, 2011
