diff --git a/docs/consumers/README.md b/docs/consumers/README.md
index cd58920..5a79f90 100644
--- a/docs/consumers/README.md
+++ b/docs/consumers/README.md
@@ -185,11 +185,26 @@ import, source-location, and ownership behavior.
 ## Identified prompt sequences
 
 [`LoadPromptCatalog`](../../examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go) uses one
-definition registration for the literal `prompts` path and `id` field. Its main
-file imports one prompt by path and others by glob, placing each source as an
-item. A nested ordinary helper import supplies an item's ID. The main tier
-strictly appends the distinct records in contribution order; its completed
-sequence replaces the lower-priority default collection as one value.
+definition registration for the literal `prompts` path and `id` field. Its
+load-wide filename defaults accept two patterns, an explicit directory
+declaration overrides those patterns, and an exclusion omits one matching
+candidate. A nested ordinary helper import supplies an item's ID. A separate
+empty optional directory search is read from `SourceInfo.ImportSelections`.
+The executable example prints both the scheduled prompt order and the single
+empty-search outcome; the behavior test also follows a mounted resource through
+its effective metadata origin to the declaring source context. The completed
+main sequence replaces the lower-priority default collection as one value.
+The maintained [executable example and behavior tests](../../examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go)
+show the scheduled result, empty-search inspection, excluded candidate, and
+resource lookup without a consumer-side discovery pass. The corresponding
+[complex fixture](../../examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/config.yml)
+and [simple required-file fixture](../../examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/simple.yml)
+are complete local examples.
+
+[`LoadRequiredPromptCatalog`](../../examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go) and
+[`Example_requiredPromptCatalog`](../../examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go)
+keep the smaller adoption path visible: one explicitly required file import,
+the same identity registration, and the same application validation.
 
 The example's `validatePromptCatalog` remains application-owned. It checks that
 prompt names and message lists satisfy this consumer's requirements after
diff --git a/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go b/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go
index ac60d59..b2f7acb 100644
--- a/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go
+++ b/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog.go
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ type PromptRecord struct {
 	ID       string   `yaml:"id"`
 	Name     string   `yaml:"name"`
 	Messages []string `yaml:"messages"`
+	Resource string   `yaml:"resource"`
 }
 
-// LoadPromptCatalog composes explicitly registered prompt records in the main
+// LoadPromptCatalog discovers explicitly registered prompt records in the main
 // tier and replaces the lower-priority default collection as a whole.
 func LoadPromptCatalog(mainPath string) (*configkit.Result[PromptCatalogConfig], error) {
 	return configkit.LoadLayered(configkit.Input{
@@ -28,16 +29,30 @@ func LoadPromptCatalog(mainPath string) (*configkit.Result[PromptCatalogConfig],
 		Underlays: []configkit.Underlay{{Inputs: []configkit.Input{{
 			Source: configkit.Bytes("default prompts", []byte("prompts:\n  - id: default\n    name: Default prompt\n    messages: [Default message]\n")),
 		}}}},
-		Definition: configkit.Definition[PromptCatalogConfig]{
-			SequenceCompositions: []configkit.SequenceComposition{{
-				Path:          configkit.Keys("prompts"),
-				IdentityField: "id",
-			}},
-			Validate: validatePromptCatalog,
+		ImportDefaults: configkit.ImportDefaults{
+			Pattern: []string{"curated*.yml", "generated-*.yml"},
 		},
+		Definition: promptCatalogDefinition(),
 	})
 }
 
+// LoadRequiredPromptCatalog keeps the common one-file import shape small.
+func LoadRequiredPromptCatalog(mainPath string) (*configkit.Result[PromptCatalogConfig], error) {
+	return configkit.Load(configkit.File(mainPath), configkit.Options[PromptCatalogConfig]{
+		Imports: true, Definition: promptCatalogDefinition(),
+	})
+}
+
+func promptCatalogDefinition() configkit.Definition[PromptCatalogConfig] {
+	return configkit.Definition[PromptCatalogConfig]{
+		SequenceCompositions: []configkit.SequenceComposition{{
+			Path:          configkit.Keys("prompts"),
+			IdentityField: "id",
+		}},
+		Validate: validatePromptCatalog,
+	}
+}
+
 func validatePromptCatalog(configuration *PromptCatalogConfig, validation *configkit.Validation) {
 	for index, prompt := range configuration.Prompts {
 		if strings.TrimSpace(prompt.Name) == "" {
diff --git a/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go b/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go
index 06e2c66..b4f4d67 100644
--- a/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go
+++ b/examples/consumers/prompt_catalog_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package consumers_test
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
+	pathpkg "path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -20,8 +22,26 @@ func Example_identifiedPromptCatalog() {
 	for _, prompt := range result.Config.Prompts {
 		ids = append(ids, prompt.ID)
 	}
-	fmt.Println(ids, err)
-	// Output: [main curated weather welcome] <nil>
+	emptySearches := 0
+	for _, source := range result.Sources() {
+		for _, selection := range source.ImportSelections {
+			if selection.Selector == configkit.ImportSelectorDirectory && selection.Outcome == configkit.ImportSelectionNone {
+				emptySearches++
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	fmt.Println(ids, emptySearches, err)
+	// Output: [weather curated welcome main] 1 <nil>
+}
+
+func Example_requiredPromptCatalog() {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadRequiredPromptCatalog(fixture("prompt-catalog", "simple.yml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Println(err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Println(result.Config.Prompts[0].ID, err)
+	// Output: required <nil>
 }
 
 func TestPromptCatalogImportsRegisteredItemsAndReplacesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
@@ -36,7 +56,7 @@ func TestPromptCatalogImportsRegisteredItemsAndReplacesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(result.Config.Prompts) != 4 {
 		t.Fatalf("prompt records = %#v", result.Config.Prompts)
 	}
-	ids := []string{"main", "curated", "weather", "welcome"}
+	ids := []string{"weather", "curated", "welcome", "main"}
 	for index, id := range ids {
 		if result.Config.Prompts[index].ID != id {
 			t.Fatalf("prompt %d ID = %q, want %q", index, result.Config.Prompts[index].ID, id)
@@ -46,12 +66,15 @@ func TestPromptCatalogImportsRegisteredItemsAndReplacesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 		if prompt.ID == "default" {
 			t.Fatalf("lower-priority default survived main sequence replacement: %#v", result.Config.Prompts)
 		}
+		if prompt.ID == "ignored" {
+			t.Fatalf("excluded generated prompt was selected: %#v", result.Config.Prompts)
+		}
 	}
 
 	var itemImports, helperImports int
 	for _, source := range result.Sources() {
 		switch filepath.Base(source.Path) {
-		case "curated.yml", "generated-weather.yml", "generated-welcome.yml":
+		case "curated.yml", "weather-feature.yml", "generated-welcome.yml":
 			if source.PlacementMode != configkit.PlacementModeSequenceItem || source.Destination.String() != "/prompts" {
 				t.Fatalf("item source placement = %#v", source)
 			}
@@ -71,6 +94,36 @@ func TestPromptCatalogImportsRegisteredItemsAndReplacesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPromptCatalogMountsResourceFromScheduledPromptOrigin(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadPromptCatalog(fixture("prompt-catalog", "config.yml"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if result.Config.Prompts[2].ID != "welcome" || result.Config.Prompts[2].Resource != "welcome.txt" {
+		t.Fatalf("scheduled resource prompt = %#v", result.Config.Prompts)
+	}
+	resourcePath := configkit.Keys("prompts").Index(2).Key("resource")
+	info, ok := result.Metadata().Lookup(resourcePath)
+	if !ok || len(info.Origin.Locations) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("resource origin = %#v, %v", info, ok)
+	}
+	context, ok := result.SourceContext(info.Origin.Locations[0].SourceID)
+	if !ok || context.FS == nil || filepath.Base(context.BaseDir) != "prompts" {
+		t.Fatalf("resource source context = %#v, %v", context, ok)
+	}
+	contents, err := fs.ReadFile(context.FS, pathpkg.Join(context.BaseDir, result.Config.Prompts[2].Resource))
+	if err != nil || string(contents) != "Welcome resource text.\n" {
+		t.Fatalf("mounted resource = %q, %v", contents, err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRequiredPromptCatalogUsesOneRequiredFile(t *testing.T) {
+	result, err := consumers.LoadRequiredPromptCatalog(fixture("prompt-catalog", "simple.yml"))
+	if err != nil || len(result.Config.Prompts) != 1 || result.Config.Prompts[0].ID != "required" {
+		t.Fatalf("simple required prompt = %#v, %v", result, err)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestPromptCatalogLeavesDomainValidationWithConsumer(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := consumers.LoadPromptCatalog(fixture("prompt-catalog", "invalid.yml"))
 	var loadError *configkit.LoadError
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/config.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/config.yml
index 0b786e0..e59e761 100644
--- a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/config.yml
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/config.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 configkit:
   imports:
-    - path: prompts/curated.yml
+    - dir: prompts
+      exclude: [generated-ignored.yml]
       destination: [prompts]
       placement: sequence-item
-    - glob: prompts/generated-*.yml
+    - dir: featured
+      pattern: [weather-*.yml]
       destination: [prompts]
       placement: sequence-item
+    - dir: optional
 prompts:
   - id: main
     name: Main authored prompt
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-weather.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/featured/weather-feature.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-weather.yml
rename to examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/featured/weather-feature.yml
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/optional/ignored.txt b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/optional/ignored.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d56caf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/optional/ignored.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This file does not match the application import defaults.
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated.yml
index e554c31..7cc3140 100644
--- a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated.yml
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 configkit:
   imports:
-    - path: curated-id.yml
+    - path: helpers/curated-id.yml
 name: Curated summary
 messages:
   - Summarize the supplied content.
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-ignored.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-ignored.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..146b5b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-ignored.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+id: ignored
+name: Excluded generated prompt
+messages: [This record is excluded.]
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-welcome.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-welcome.yml
index c6d0851..ce4170f 100644
--- a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-welcome.yml
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/generated-welcome.yml
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@ id: welcome
 name: Welcome
 messages:
   - Welcome the user.
+resource: welcome.txt
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated-id.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/helpers/curated-id.yml
similarity index 100%
rename from examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/curated-id.yml
rename to examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/helpers/curated-id.yml
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/required.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/required.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd7ed67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/required.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+id: required
+name: Required prompt
+messages: [Use the required prompt.]
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/welcome.txt b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/welcome.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6603aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/prompts/welcome.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Welcome resource text.
diff --git a/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/simple.yml b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/simple.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9dd0a16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/consumers/testdata/prompt-catalog/simple.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: prompts/required.yml
+      required: true
+      destination: [prompts]
+      placement: sequence-item
+prompts: []