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…

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.…

Classical queuing theories and their accompanying service facilities totally disregard the human factors in the name of efficiency. As library managers we need to be more responsive to human needs in the design of service points and make every effort to minimize queuing and queue frustration. Five references are listed. (Author/RAA)

A survey of 99 academic music librarians identifies current administrative practices regarding cataloging and attempts to determine how these practices affect user service and cataloger satisfaction. Highlights include the problem, administrative structure, physical facilities, location of cataloging tools, music catalogers' duties, support staff,…

Describes an exchange program between academic libraries in Sichuan Province and Washington State University, and discusses the Chinese approach to academic librarianship in the areas of management and personnel, access and circulation, automation, reference services, collection development and censorship, and library facilities. (CLB)

Describes academic libraries in Germany and how they have been influenced by restructuring and reforming the higher education system, changes in information technology and information industry, and effects of the German reunification process. Discusses library resources, including staff, buildings, and collections; catalogs; preservation; user…

Considers the future of academic libraries in five main areas: (1) funding; (2) buildings and space, including storage options for print and nonprint materials; (3) library materials, including electronic journals and monographs, video, computer software, government information, resource sharing, and workstations; (4) staff, including the roles of…