Identifies some of the significant changes underway within and outside libraries and analyzes their potential impact on research libraries. Explores issues important to serials managers. Discusses strategies for data gathering to support management decisions and outlines unresolved questions that await future developments or require additional…

Discusses serials cancellations; reviews library collection assessment policies and reasons for assessment studies; describes a survey of academic health sciences libraries that examined serials cancellation projects, including the decision-making process, regional or national cooperation, and the methodology used; and explains a generic serials…

Discusses the use of library management data, particularly circulation data, in making selection decisions for library collection development based on experiences at Louisiana State University. Development of a collection based on actual use rather than perceived research needs is considered, and the decision-making process for serials…

Examines the role of commercial document delivery. Discusses interlibrary loan (ILL); access versus ownership decision making; degree of use and patron use of commercial document delivery; and use of library materials funds. Concludes that document delivery will not totally replace ownership or ILL, but that it is becoming more important because…