The trajectory of U.S. higher education in the next 20 years is portrayed by some as an arc of potential disaster and by others as a slightly upwardly inclined plane that may have some dips along the way. Generally these scenarios focus on the teaching and learning program of higher education institutions and give very little attention to the…

This paper describes the automated copyright clearance process for electronic reserves materials by the electronic reserves staff at the Information and Library Services (ILS), at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Besides the standard practice to handle and post required course readings in digital format for UMUC's distance…

"Research Library Issues" ("RLI") focuses on current and emerging topics that are strategically important to research libraries. The articles explore issues, share information, pose critical questions, and provide examples. This issue includes the following articles: (1) ARL Library Budgets after the Great Recession, 2011-13…

Organization of electronic resources workflow is critical in the increasingly complicated and complex world of library management. A simple organizational tool that can be readily applied to electronic resources management (ERM) is the use of checklists. Based on the principles discussed in The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, the…

This article describes a case study that best illustrates the value of student workers in university libraries, focusing particularly on how this kind of creative endeavor benefits everyone involved--the library, the students, the faculty, and at the end of the project: the university community. (Contains 1 table.)

Noise in a community college library can be part of the nature of the environment. It can also become a huge distraction for those who see the library as their sanctuary for quiet study and review of resources. This article describes the steps that should be taken by library staff in order to be proactive about noise and the library environment,…

The experiences of a first-time community college library director during the initial three months on the job are detailed. The process of automation software migration is used as a vehicle for demonstrating activities performed to improve knowledge. Marketing, customer service, and identification of core library supporters are addressed. Concern…

The increased use of interlibrary loan (ILL) services at the Evergreen Valley College (EVC) library which resulted from joining OCLC automated Interlibrary Loan subsystem in 1979 led to the development of an Interlibrary Loan Borrowing Policy by the EVC library staff. The policy is designed to explain to library patrons the limitations on…

This study examines the different viewpoints of library directors and non-directors about their jobs at tribal colleges. Previous ties to a tribal college or tribal membership were important factors in shaping experiences of library staff. The findings may be useful in developing successful recruitment and retention strategies for tribal college…

The staff performance evaluation program of McGill University Libraries is based on a hierarchy of objectives in which individual and unit goals are compatible with department, area library, and overall library system goals. Individual goals and performance standards are formulated jointly by the staff member and his or her supervisor according to…

Describes a simulation language--the Integrated Network System (INS)--which lends itself to modeling library operations and presents a simulation in which the circulation department of a university library was subjected to 10- and 20-percent increases in public demand and the efficiency and human resource needs of the department were analyzed.…

Designed as a supplement to the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Libraries' review of their current situation, this report presents an assessment of administrative support and staffing of the libraries in the LACCD, and offers recommendations for maintaining and improving their operations. Following introductory comments on the…

University of Oklahoma Libraries conducted a cost study of circulation service-desk operations. Using percentages of staff time occupied in particular tasks, pay rates, indirect costs, and overhead, total costs were computed on task-by-task basis. Information served as basis for reorganization of work assignments and revision of staff scheduling.…

Defining absenteeism as "unscheduled leave," this report describes an attempt to analyze the factors involved in absenteeism, which produced no significant improvement, and an absentee counseling program instituted at the University of Guelph Library in October 1980, which resulted in improved attendance within a few months. (EJS)

The "College Library Information Packet (CLIP) Note" series is known for providing college and university libraries with reviews and current documentation on library practices and procedures of relevance to them. This "CLIP Note" provides information and sample policies on travel, sabbaticals, and study leaves of absence in small academic…