Reports on the American Library Association's efforts to update the Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM). Describes topics of working groups that include transcription of early letter forms, rare book cataloging of machine-press books, collection-level cataloging, problems and lacunae, and varieties of editions and issues and when to…

Examines the responsibilities and problems inherent in the administration of sizeable map collections in libraries, archives, university departments, and other institutional settings. (FM)

Drawing upon an efficacious method for discovering previously unknown causes of medical syndromes and searching in the Humanities Index, an illuminating new humanities analogy between the epistemological ideas of Robert Frost and the ancient Greek philosopher Carneades was found by constructing a search statement in which proper names were coupled…

Discusses aspects inherent in maintaining a library position while developing a separate freelance career as exemplified by personal experiences as a children's librarian and freelance storyteller. Potential problems (fatigue, clear boundaries, scheduling) and advantages for the individual (financial security, professional contacts) and the…

Provides specific information on varying photographic materials and processes to aid archivists and curators in preserving photograph collections. Preservation problems related to major types of silver prints on paper (salt, albumen, collodion, gelatin) and to the silver image (oxidation, silver sulfide) are covered. Twenty references are cited.…

Presents an overview of the developments and dilemmas related to the cataloging and classification of maps, addressing the areas of online library systems, cooperative cataloging, descriptive cataloging, subject access, and the improvement of network capabilities. Seventeen references are cited. (FM)

Discusses the quality of cataloging in bibliographic control based on experiences at the Library of Congress. Highlights include the down side of quality and quality review, copy cataloging, CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials), NCCP (National Coordinated Cataloging Program) and PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging), minimal-level cataloging,…

Examines the role that the public library plays as a center for community activities, as a civic building, and as a representative of government. Examples of these roles in California communities are given, and sources of income and funding problems are addressed. (Contains 10 references.) (LRW)

Focuses on the special problems facing the Third World in terms of scholarly publishing and the possible roles of the university press in this context. (MBR)

Discussion of the administration of the preservation of library materials presents observations of the field based on the author's experiences and briefly describes related programs conducted by Yale University Libraries, Association of Research Libraries Office of Management Studies, and School of Library Service at Columbia University. Four…

Discusses information overload and examines several ways in which actual and potential overload affects research choices for the solo researcher in interdisciplinary areas. Topics include information overload and teamwork; entry barriers to certain specialties, including necessary background knowledge; and information utilization and knowledge…

Reviews various evaluation techniques used on different campuses to measure the effectiveness of library instruction programs. (FM)

Provides a history of the establishment of the AFL-CIO/ALA (American Federation of Labor (AFL)-Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)/American Library Association (ALA)) Joint Committee on Library Service to Labor Groups. Topics include public learning, labor, and libraries; services to labor; problems and issues, including conflicts between…

Discusses unethical practices of authors, editors, and reviewers of scholarly journals, including problems related to coauthorship, data sharing, and underreporting; ethical responsibilities of editors; ethics of peer review; and suggestions for eliminating or limiting unethical practices, such as more explicit guidelines for journals and better…

The increased availability of digital images is accompanied by a need for solutions to the problems inherent in indexing them for retrieval. Problems in image description and access are discussed, with a perspective on traditional and new solutions. Recent developments in intellectual access to images are surveyed and contrasted with…