Collection Development Policy
Renner Family Audio Learning Center

 

Audio materials:

PROGRAMS AND CLIENTELE SUPPORTED:

The audio collections serve the entire university population, but have a special relationship to the undergraduate and graduate programs of the Department of Music. (A complete discussion of the implications of all types of materials--printed, audio, video, CD-ROM, etc.-- for music is presented in more extensive detail in the collection development policy statement for "Music.") Essentially, the audio collections contain the primary materials for the music curricula, and the collecting policy for musical materials in these areas should duplicate (in theory if not in actual practice) the collection policy for music. With regard to other curricular areas, these collections tend to be secondary in importance and acquisition is on an as-needed basis.

MUSIC LIBRARIAN:

Jennifer Matthews
Collection Development Department
Room 204, Hesburgh Library
(574) 631-9038
Jennifer.C.Matthews.27@nd.edu
FAX: (574) 631-6772

CONSPECTUS: None

 

MUSIC:

GENERAL COLLECTING GUIDELINES:

In order to properly support the music curricula, the audio collections need to include a comprehensive collection of both retrospective and contemporary performances of both historical and present-day musical works.

Languages: The original language of compositions is preferred for vocal music; language is not an appropriate consideration for instrumental music.

Chronological: The entire history of music is appropriate for study within the curriculum, but six stylistic periods are emphasized: Medieval (AD 500-1300), Renaissance (1300-1600), Baroque (1580-1750), Classical (1730-1810), Romantic (1800-1900), and Contemporary (1900-).

Geographical: In historical terms, the music of Western and Eastern Europe and of the United States are emphasized. In the contemporary world, the liturgical and concert (serious) music of the entire world is considered.

Treatment of Subject: The collection focuses on historical and standard works of the serious, concert style. Popular music is generally excluded, but classic musical comedies and revues and study scores of film music ("Oklahoma," "Cats," "Phantom of the Opera," etc.) are collected as representative examples of that genre. Performances of authentic, well-edited editions of Irish folk and traditional music are collected as additions to and support for the Francis O'Neill Irish Music Collection. Ethnic music is collected very selectively as a manner of providing a general documentation of all aspects of music. A special case in this regard is folk and traditional music of Ireland, which is collected in support of the O'Neill Collection. Popular music, including rock, rap, hip- hop, etc., is also very selectively included since this type of music is a so pervasive element in contemporary culture and its documentation will be of historical importance in the future.

Retrospective recordings of performers who have demonstrated their importance are emphasized. Jazz--in all of its aspects--is an intermediate case in this respect. Jazz is an important element in the worldwide musical scene, and retrospective collections in this area are collected to a lesser extent than those works that feature what is commonly called classical music, but to a greater extent than popular music.

Formats: Recordings are collected in the same areas and with the emphases as printed music. Multiple performances of works are acquired without consideration about "duplication" of the work itself. Compact discs are the preferred format for recordings, but when "cd"s are not available, the preferred formats are (in descending priority order) DAT cassettes (when appropriate equipment is available) analog discs, analog cassettes, and reel-to-reel tapes.

COORDINATION INFORMATION:

Necessary coordination between the music collection and the Audio-Video Center collection of music is accomplished through the activities of the Music Librarian, who is responsible for collection development in both areas.

COLLECTING LEVELS :

Subject	Collecting Level	Notes
Recordings:
Standard concert repertory	4
Historical works	4
Contemporary art music	4
Jazz	3	Retrospectively
Musical comedies, revues, etc.	2
Film music	2
Liturgical music	2
Popular music	1

OTHER CURRICULA:

GENERAL COLLECTING GUIDELINES:

In most cases, audio materials are clearly supplemental to printed and other formats. Some exceptions are subfields within ethnic studies, economics, literature, etc., which are primarily dependent on oral rather than printed materials.

Languages: English is emphasized.

Chronological: Primary emphasis is on materials developed in and about the twentieth century.

Geographical: Worldwide

Treatment of subject: Except where curricular and research needs clearly demonstrate that a subject field (or subfield) is primarily dependent on oral or visual materials (e.g., ethnic studies, oral history, etc.), audio materials in fields other than music are supplementary and secondary to (but supportive of) other library materials. They are acquired as requested on a demonstrated as-needed basis.

Types of materials: Compact discs and cassettes are the preferred formats, with DAT cassettes, analog discs, analog cassettes, and reel-to-reel tapes preferred (in descending order of preference) when "CDs" are not available.

COLLECTING LEVELS:

Subject	Collecting Level	Notes
Spoken materials	2	As requested

 

 

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