Discusses issues facing librarianship in the People's Republic of China based on observations by a delegation of American and Canadian librarians in 1985. Highlights include the impact of the Cultural Revolution, collection development strategies, user needs and barriers to use, outreach to special populations, networking and resource sharing, and…

International governmental organizations (IGOs) are constantly expanding their work and influence, yet their publications are among the most difficult documents for libraries to acquire, organize, and use. This authoritative reference work examines the documentation, publications, and computerized information services of such major IGOs as the…

The purpose of this research was to investigate who should be responsible in the selection of library materials, and to compare the primary responsibility by country and type of library. A content analysis was used to examine 70 articles relating to selection responsibility. The articles cover the period 1950 to 1998, with a wide range of…

Compares and analyzes two collection development courses for undergraduates offered through distance education, one at the University of Wales Aberystwyth (United Kingdom) and one at Charles Sturt University (Australia). Discusses the changes that electronic technology are bringing to collection development and to distance learning. (LRW)

Describes results of a study of interlibrary loan statistics that was conducted at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Library (Saudi Arabia) in 1985-86. Results are used to examine collection development needs, departmental use, categories of users, time required to fill requests, and lending vendors. (five references) (LRW)

This study evaluated the collections of all seven university libraries in Saudi Arabia against Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) standards. Data collected by questionnaire on holdings and collection development programs indicated that six libraries were below the ACRL standards. It was found that King Saudi University library…

Presents the first Canadian periodical price index, which covers foreign and domestic periodicals from 1989 to 1991. Prices by subject categories and by country of publication are presented, use of the price index for library collection planning and budget planning is discussed, and projected increases are described. (12 references) (LRW)

Provides data on price trends for French academic books in the humanities and social sciences for the years 1986-90 based on information from the "Bulletin Critique du Livre Francais," a monthly book-reviewing journal. A method for developing a price index for this material is demonstrated. (Contains eight references.) (LRW)

Discusses the criteria for selection by teacher librarians and the innovative resource evaluation process undertaken by the Aboriginal Studies Project team in Western Australia that was created to ensure access to Aboriginal Studies programs by children in Australian schools. (Author/LRW)

The 11 papers in this booklet were presented at meetings of 3 sections within the Division of General Research Libraries: (1) "On the Concept of Development of the National Library of the USSR" (N. I. Tyulina); (2) "Strategic Planning in National Libraries" (Maurice B. Line, UK); (3) "Strategic Planning in National…

The six papers compiled here cover issues related to acquisition, library cooperation, and collection development. In "The UK Serials Group: A British Success Story," David P. Woodworth describes the background and work of the Serials Group, an autonomous British organization which aims to bridge the gap between serials producers and…

Faced with growing problems in the management and direction of its periodical collection, in 1973 the McLaughlin Library at the University of Guelph established a Periodical Use Committee responsible for collecting and analyzing statistics on the use of periodicals within the library. Specific responsibilities of the committee included deciding…

To identify areas where seats could be removed to accommodate a growing collection, the University of Wollongong (New South Wales, Australia) library surveyed patron seating usage. The survey supported a 12% reduction in seating, which enabled the installation of additional shelving and a compactus to store 20,000 volumes while having a minimal…

Includes 15 articles that relate to Canadian children's literature, including the power of literature; using Canadian literature in Canada; the principal's role in promoting literacy; Canadian Children's Book Centre; the National Library of Canada's children's literature collection; book promotion; selection guide; publisher's perspective; and…

Describes the role of and services offered by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies Library in Saudi Arabia. Topics covered include the objectives of the institute and the library facilities, collections, acquisitions programs, cataloging procedures, administrative policies, and future plans. (seven references) (CLB)