The challenges faced by reference and collection development staff have become increasingly complex in recent years, as more and more materials--in a variety of formats--have become available. This book shows reference and collection development librarians how to use the Internet to share information through online conversations and online…

Libraries serve our nation and its citizens in two primary ways: by preserving our common culture, and by nurturing and sustaining democracy itself. A particular democratic function of libraries is fostering reading. As noted in two reports recently issued by the U.S. Department of Education, "What Works" and "First Lessons," it is imperative to…

The role of the research library and issues in access to increasing quantities of information are discussed, including the problems of cataloging and classifying information and the barriers to access often created by librarians. (MSE)

Strong archival programs are rare, in part because the vital issues of program leadership and management have not been given sustained attention. As a consequence, many programs are under-funded, under-supported, and lack sufficient space, staff, and other resources necessary to carry out their important work. This collection of writings from…

Discusses virtual libraries in corporate settings from the viewpoint of five special librarians. Highlights include competitive advantage, space and related collection issues, the use of technology, corporate culture, information overload, library vulnerability and downsizing, and the importance of service over format. (LRW)

Discusses how collection-development librarians can customize their workstations by building a Web page to cover public service and outreach efforts to constituencies, links to tools to enable selectors to use the Web and work more efficiently, and selection of Web resources. Describes Web sites in the three categories of communication with…

An analysis of 599 reviews of children's books from six reviewing journals for 1995-96 was compared to earlier studies, revealing great variation in adequacy of reviews. School Library Journal provided the most complete bibliographic and ordering information but no single journal supplied all the information librarians need for purchasing juvenile…

This second in a two-part series on resources in major university music libraries contains: "The Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library at Harvard University" (John B. Howard) and "The Research Collections of the Sibley Music Library of the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester" (Mary Wallace Davidson). (Contains 73…

Identifies the types of individuals engaged in financial activities with whom an acquisitions librarian at a university library may need to interact. Discusses why financial relationships with these individuals are important to acquisitions librarians and how these relationships can be established and enhanced. (JMV)

Discusses three philosophical positions taken by librarians regarding Holocaust denial literature in library collections: inclusion, exclusion, and inclusion with labeling as inaccurate. Concludes that librarians should not undertake the role of arbiters of truth but should responsibly and intelligently build collections that provide access to…

Never before has a fully informed citizenry been more important to the present and future well-being of the Nation than it is today. And yet, recent investigations have shown that 27 million of our children and adults live in areas without any public library service, and 53 million more have only inadequate book and information services available…

Current technological advances make acquiring and producing oral history records easier for librarians. However, they must be aware of practical, philosophical, political, and legal issues involved therein. Preservation formats include (1) audiotape; (2) videotape; (3) disc recordings; (4) film; (5) slides and audiotapes; and (6) microfilm. (CDD)

Discusses when librarians should develop their own Internet collections and how to add value to them, based on examples from the Argus Clearinghouse Web site. Topics include evaluation criteria for Internet resources; strategic planning; Internet collection development policies; and adding value through organization, navigation, learning systems,…

Discusses the Internet's impact on library resources and the academic curriculum, highlighting collection development and the library's role in integrating the Internet into the curriculum. Suggests that librarians should promote the use of the Internet in the academic community and should integrate Internet resources with other library materials…

Virginia Commonwealth University reduced its ready reference collection by integrating the majority into the general reference collection. The project was a success and advantages for staff included more time and focus on users; expanded knowledge of collection; and reduced stress. (JMV)