Winston Tabb opened the meeting and asked members to describetheir institution's programs in German Studies. Roger Chickering noted that Georgetown is one of three specially funded Centers for German Studies. A second Center for German and European Studies is at UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley also has a Title VI Center for European Studies. Jim Spohrer described the collection strengths in German social sciences. Collection activities in this area are supported by a annual budget of $100,000. Stephen Lehmann remarked that the strength of the library collection at the University of Pennsylvania is in the humanities rather than in the social sciences. Tony Angiletta described the strong academic programs in German Studies at Stanford University, which include a Center for European Studies and an endowed chair for Austrian Studies. The Libraries at Stanford collaborate closely with the Hoover Institution in the area of collecting German political science materials. Sarah Thomas noted that the German language collections at LC are the institution's second largest collection. She also described several projects in cooperative cataloging of German language materials, including extensive contributions by Harvard and UC Berkeley.

Winston Tabb briefly summarized project efforts to-date. One important step has been the submission of a grant proposal to the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Unfortunately, the Stiftung did not fund the proposal.

The Working Group next considered the project scope. Jim Spohrer summarized the results the recent study of German political science materials from the period 1985-1992, which showed that collecting fell short of adequacy in every significant category. During the ensuing discussion, members underscored the significant shift in the last 15 years in German studies away from emphasis on literature to the study of German history and political science. However, an imbalance remains in the strengths of research collections between German language materials in the humanities and the social sciences. Members agreed that the focus of the demonstration project should be on areas where there is a problem of availability of German language materials. The group agreed that the basic cornerstone of the proposed German demonstration project is building the collections and electronic infrastructure to improve access to and delivery of German imprints and language materials related to German politics and public life since 1945.

Tony Angiletta outlined a series of different categories of materials, including monographs, journals, newspapers, gray literature, government documents, publications of research institutes, and data sets. The group next reviewed these categories in order to determine their inclusion or exclusion from the project.

1. German language monographs

   The group decided that acquisition of all core as well as specialized research monographs (categories A and B in the Spohrer/Olson study) would be one central project focus.

2. German language journals

   The group decided that second project purpose is to enrich the available number of German language journals.

3. German newspapers

   The group decided not to include newspapers in the project scope at the present time.

4. German gray literature

   Members discussed the limited availability in North America of alternate literature and ephemeral documentation. Given the difficulties of acquiring these materials, the group decided that gray literature would not be included in the project. It is assumed that collecting in Germany is adequate and that electronic access would improve identification and locating these materials.

5. German government documents

   After considerable discussion, it was agreed to include federal documents, especially ministerial reports, parliamentary series, and statistical publications. Although it would be desirable to extend the coverage of documents issued by the Lander, that decision was postponed.

6. Publications of research institutes

   It was agreed that publications of importance in this category would be encompassed as part of the collecting strategies for monographs.

7. Data sets

   Members noted that the Zentrum fur Umfragen collects all the data sets. Further, they can be obtained from the ISPR.

   At the end of this discussion the group confirmed that the project will encompass three categories of materials in the agreed- upon topics: monographs; serials; and federal government documents.

   The discussions also highlighted the need to inform German university libraries about the project and to explore formal resource sharing agreements. One desirable step is hosting a conference in Germany that would bring together all the key players.

Winston Tabb suggested a brief review of the project status report and recommended that the document should be revised to serve as the project work plan. The discussion then turned to the next steps. In the absence of funding for a project coordinator, the group agreed that several activities can be undertaken with assistance from members of the Working Group and the ALA, WESS Subcommittee for the Collaborative Collection Development in German Social Sciences. Specific project activities over the next two months include:

1. Determination of a methodology for ensuring acquisition of all category A and B monographs related to German politics and public life since 1945.

   Jim Spohrer will get in touch with Martha Hsu, chair of the WESS Subcommittee. The intent is to ask the members of the Subcommittee to propose a methodology for identifying and ensuring acquisition of newly published German and German language imprints related to the above topic. Options to be explored include special arrangements with Harrassowitz. The goals are to devise a methodology for generating lists of titles that should be acquired by North American research libraries and to propose a process for collaboration in acquiring all titles. The target is: mid-February for the initial draft

2. German language serials

   Sarah Thomas will investigate the feasibility of generating a comprehensive list of journals based on the serial list issued by the Deutsche Bibliothek. After the initial list has been compiled, we would seek the advice of the WESS Subcommittee to determine the inclusion of relevant titles. The target is: mid-March for validating the list

3. German government documents

   As a first step, Margrit Krewson at LC will generate a list of government documents that are currently being received by LC. This list will serve as the nucleus for determining German government documents held by ARL libraries. The list will also establish which, if any, government documents are available electronically from Germany.

4. Communication

   Winston Tabb underscored the importance of informing scholars and other users, ARL directors and German bibliographers. Roger Chickering agreed to send out a revised work plan to the members of the German Studies Association and the Conference Group for Central European History. The intent would be to invite feedback and comments about the project.

   ARL will inform directors through its newsletter and the directors' electronic listserv. A special mailing will be sent to ARL directors at institutions with strong collections in German social sciences in preparation for seeking project participation.

   James Spohrer and Stephen Lehmann will provide information to WESS members.

5. Funding

   The group considered a number of potential foundations. The agreed-upon next step is to submit a revised proposal to the German Marshall Fund.