A critical component of strategic planning is creating a shared-awareness among library staff of the potential societal, political, economic and technological changes that will influence how future users will create and consume scholarly materials, what will be expected of library services, and how facilities will be used. The ACRL Futuring…

How have college and university-based archives and special collections fared over the past few years in the midst of an historically grim economic downturn? The authors conducted in-depth interviews with directors of 13 archival repositories at state universities and private colleges in the Appalachian region of Virginia, West Virginia, North…

The intent of this study was to aid academic librarians in examining their perceptions of the future of higher education, engaging disciplinary faculty members to understand their views, and determining actions to take to shape the future. In this mixed methods study, scenarios about the future of higher education served as the basis for…

Outlines the major issues which special libraries will face in the next decade. (Author/PF)

Encapsulates a wrap-up session on technical programs presented at the Special Libraries Association's June 1987 conference, including presentations in the areas of information technology, management, education, and international issues. Ethics, value, leadership, international issues, image, and risk are identified as major themes of the…

Explores library-related implications of the U.S. Department of Justice's investigations into the operations of Microsoft and Intel and suggests that developing a broader understanding of information technology marketing is crucial to the short- and long-term future of libraries. (MES)

The dominant thrust of the 1980's may be the development of cost-effective in-house library minicomputer processing and catalog access systems capable of interfacing synergistically with an effective national library network for sharing bibliographical data and library resources. (Author/PF)

Discusses techniques to aid library supervisors in planning and conducting a positive performance evaluation conference. Topics addressed include time and place, gathering relevant data, active listening, effective questioning, praise and criticism, and future plans. An annotated bibliography of 48 sources of information on performance appraisal…

Discusses the importance of strategic planning in academic libraries. Topics addressed include the culture of the research institution, benefits of strategic planning, empowerment of the library through planning, and a framework for the planning process. Examples of planning from two university libraries that involved staff, faculty,…

The organization of school libraries and media centers should be adapted to take into account the changes which have occurred in recent decades, both within the school and in the surrounding world. This is discussed in terms of staff, collections and equipment, access, location and users. (Author/STS)

Seven commentators review the development and current status of undergraduate libraries, and speculate on their future direction. They are Irene Hoadley, Texas A&M; Judith Harwood, Southern Illinois; Kenneth Toombs, South Carolina; Sheila Laidlaw, Toronto; G. A. Rudolph, Nebraska; Shelley Phipps, Arizona; and Frank Rodgers of Miami University.…

Future emphasis in cataloging will be on the sharing of high quality bibliographic records through a national network. As original cataloging decreases, catalogers, rather than disappearing, will more likely be managers of the library's bibliographic control system. (Author/RAA)

Reviews factors influencing the librarian's decision process and contrasts them with visions of an ideal bibliographic system, the online catalog, and the all-purpose library network. Significant factors considered are AACR2, LC's decision to close its catalog, and the emerging national library network. (Author/RAA)

Examines changes that technology has made in librarianship and offers personal observations concerning changes in the future. Discussion covers allocation of responsibilities among library personnel; mobilization to work; behavior and skills critical for efficiency and productivity; changes in work based on flow of, and access to, information; and…

This paper examines the current rate of change in university libraries and makes projections of future rates of change. Highlights include technological innovations, change models (particularly the Stages of Growth organizational change model), organization and administration of university libraries, and implications of change for librarianship.…