At least since the early 1990s, academic libraries have been merging Circulation and various other related functions into a single department typically labeled "Access Services." In many cases, however, that merger has proven to be administrative rather than functional, with minimal integration of common workflows. This article describes…

In a rare show of bipartisanship, the Senate passed the controversial Federal Library Agency Act (FLAA) on a nearly unanimous voice vote, sending it to President Obama for his expected signature. The House had passed it in February with a two-thirds majority. The FLAA creates a new mandate by combining federal library functions scattered…

While the National Library of Medicine created the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) as a network to provide medical and health information, historically few nonmedical academic libraries have participated. University medical libraries and hospital libraries have been the major focus of the Network. Recently, the NNLM has…

The intent of this paper is to explore the potential of utilizing interlibrary loan (ILL) data relating to lending denials to improve ILL services while highlighting institutional policies that have a negative impact on lending fulfillment rates. Reasons for denial as well as the types of requests being denied are reviewed. In addition, the author…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of The Bridging Worlds Conference which was held in October 2008 in Singapore. Design/methodology/approach: One of the main topics the National Library Board of Singapore, the organising party, wished to address was the roles cultural institutions, such as libraries, may play in…

Interlibrary lending is often overlooked when resource-sharing operations are evaluated. The relevant literature shows a lack of current lending studies. It can be difficult to convince administrators that lending should be considered to be as important as borrowing in spite of the fact that one cannot operate without the other. 26,800 cancelled…

In preparation for its Five-Year Plan for the years 2008 through 2012, the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services has reviewed a variety of information resources, including studies, publications, surveys and stakeholder meetings, to assist in understanding the state, its people, its future and the potential role of libraries. This…

Jacksonville State University's (JSU) Houston Cole (HCL) Library has always provided access to required course readings through a reserve circulation system. Prior to 2002, this services was "print based," requiring students to photocopy materials held physically at the reserve desk in the library. In 2002, the library integrated the…

Reviews the ways in which technical processing personnel enable libraries to provide fast and accurate access to information, and discusses the impact of technological change on the role and duties of technical processing personnel, the nature of library service, and existing organizational structures. (CLB)

To study the effect of fees for interlibrary resource sharing, data were collected on all requests made to the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (SHSW) during a period when no charges were in effect (representing a normal baseline); during a period when the charges were announced, but not assessed; and during a period in which charges were in…

This annual report provides a review of Council on Library Resources (CLR) activities for 1988-1989. Status reports on long-term projects and/or lists of relevant activities funded during the year are provided for the CLR Program on Library Management and Operations, including: operating support for the Commission on Preservation and Access;…

This paper provides information on library services in Wisconsin, with a special emphasis on public library systems. The first section describes how library services are organized and administered, including municipal and county libraries, library systems, and the state Department of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Community…

This manifesto for school libraries that is endorsed by UNESCO, and developed by Gwynneth Evans of the National Library of Canada, discusses the mission of the school library, including access to services and materials; funding legislation and library networks; goals to support the development of literacy; staff; operation and management; and…

This publication is a directory of Florida libraries and related organizations, and contains statistical data for Florida public libraries for fiscal year 1994-95. The report lists members of the State Library Council, Florida State Advisory Council on Libraries, Florida Library Network Council, Staff Directory, State Library of Florida…

The Michigan Community Health Electronic Library (MCHEL) serves the public health and other community health workers in Michigan. It is committed to desktop delivery of the best health information to its primary clientele, with as much as possible in digital full-text form. It collaborates with other libraries in the state to make this possible.…