This reexamination of earlier forecasts and statistics related to research library growth--Purdue studies first published in 1965, data and forecasts from Fremont Rider's 1944 book--shows mixed results for evidence of continuing rapid growth of collections and acquisition expenditures and marked decline in acquisition rates. (16 references) (EJS)

Reviews the literature that deals with the political ramifications of weeding material from academic library collections and the need to involve users and other libraries within the institution in the decision process. (14 references) (CLB)

Academic librarians and faculty library representatives were interviewed about the relationship between librarians and faculty in collection development. The problem stressed by library representatives was communication with department colleagues. Librarians thought the system of library representatives depended on the representative's view of the…

Discusses quality issues regarding Web sites and describes research that created an intelligent agent for automated collection development in a digital academic library setting, which uses a predictive model based on facets of each Web page to select scholarly works. Describes the use of bibliomining, or data mining for libraries. (Author/LRW)

Describes results of two collection condition surveys conducted at the University of Kansas libraries, one of which examined materials returning from circulation and the other which examined the general collection. Paper condition, text block condition, binding, and mutilation are discussed, and the impact on long-term preservation planning is…

Describes a project undertaken in the Yale University Library to develop a rational approach for the selection and appraisal of collections of faculty papers. Serves as a case study of the application of a method developed by the Minnesota Historical Society to a collecting repository within an academic setting. (Author/LRW)

Explores the role of the academic rare book library in terms of its financial justification and concludes that the primary justification lies in its utility as a research library. It is also concluded that institutions unable to support a proper rare book collection might be advised to develop appropriate special collections instead. (19…

Offers suggestions for developing a collection policy that promotes the integration of government documents into an academic library's overall collection management objectives. Steps described include selecting appropriate agencies, selecting appropriate levels of collection intensity, assigning intensity levels to agency materials, and adjusting…

Presents a study by Texas A&M University to find steps to improve access to engineering society technical papers. Steps include: consolidating indexes, creating finding guides, changing shelving procedures, and utilizing gopher-client servers. A table displays indexing results via an online system and appendixes offer an example of a gopher…

Periodicals librarians in libraries supporting smaller public colleges and universities were surveyed on issues concerning their serials collections. Findings indicate cost increases are a problem, but most respondents believe their collections are meeting institutional demands. Questions remain, however, about the influence of rising periodical…

Rampant inflation in serials' pricing is forcing many academic libraries to initiate serials cancellation projects. If libraries plan carefully and involve faculty throughout the process, serials can be canceled without excessive damage to the collection or to the library's relationship with the rest of the college. (six references) (LAE)

The Research Library Group's (RLG) 1985 Conoco Study was designed to measure the possibilities for resource sharing among members. Study of German literature and geology collections showed possibilities for considerable sharing; however, in practice, library acquisitions are based on local needs, and no organized cooperative collection development…

Explores the relationship between collection development and the system of scholarly communication in academic libraries. Ownership of versus access to information is discussed; use-based criteria are considered; and strategies for collection development in a networked electronic system are presented. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)

Surveys the history of Indian immigration to the United States and the development of Indian collections in academic, public, and special libraries. Library services to Indian populations are discussed, with descriptions of specific collections, and suggestions are given to improve services and collections. (SLD)

This symposium report includes seven papers that address issues concerning the North American Collections Inventory Project (NCIP) Conspectus sponsored by the Research Libraries Group (RLG). Topics discussed include cooperative collection development; rigor and research in library and information science; decision making and uncertainty; and data…