Special collections libraries collect and preserve materials of intellectual and cultural heritage, providing access to unique research resources. As their holdings continue to expand, special collections in research libraries confront increased space pressures. Off-site storage facilities, used frequently by research libraries for general…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit reports results of a survey of ARL (Association of Research Libraries) that examined the nature and structure of the interview process at large research and academic libraries in the United States and Canada. By determining the nature and structure of the interview, it is hoped that candidates…

This SPEC Kit, published six times per year, examines how Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries have structured themselves to identify networked information resources in the market, to evaluate them for purchase, to make purchasing decisions, to publicize them, and to assess their continued utility. In the summer of 1999, the survey…

Materials in this collection were submitted by respondents to a survey which sought specific data on the numbers and types of approval plans in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries, whether such plans are meeting expectations, their relative importance in the library, who makes the key decisions, and the kind of thought and study that…

Based on responses to a survey from 79 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, this Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit explores how these libraries are currently addressing management issues associated with materials budgets. The survey addressed the following broad areas: how libraries define their materials…

Describes results of a survey of members of the Association of Research Libraries that was conducted to determine what procedures are followed to obtain current reference books in foreign languages and to assess the libraries' satisfaction with those procedures. Standing order plans are discussed, and proposals to improve reviewing sources are…

Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions were surveyed by the Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) in the fall of 1987 to obtain information on their recruitment and hiring practices for top level library administrative positions, and to determine in what ways search procedures may have changed over the past 10 years in…

In April 1983 the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) surveyed selected members regarding the recruitment, compensation, role, and training of assistant, associate or deputy library directors. A total of 51 libraries (approximately 50% of ARL academic members) participated in the survey. It was found that associate director (AD)-level staff…

This set of materials on the recruitment and selection of librarians and other professional staff in research libraries, assembled by the Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) of the Association of Research Libraries, includes: (1) policy and procedures statements on the recruitment, selection, and appointment of professional library…

This document summarizes the results of a 1994 survey regarding the use of document suppliers by 90 ARL (Association of Research Libraries) members. A document supplier was defined as "a company or service that supplies documents for a fee." Document suppliers are increasingly used by research libraries as cost-effective solutions to the…

This flyer and kit were developed by the Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to examples job descriptions used by academic and research libraries and present examples from various libraries. Job descriptions serve a variety of purposes in personnel management. In addition, current and…

This Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit presents the results of a survey which focused on the use of remote storage by research libraries as a solution to the shortage of library storage space. The kit includes documents from several libraries describing how they have developed policy questions and procedures to handle the…

This report summarizes data from three exploratory studies of Fordham University Library (New York) support for graduate education scholarship at Fordham. The first study assessed the spring 1990 course syllabi for inclusion and noninclusion of items on the bibliographies in the Fordham library system. Collection support for future course…