This kit prepared by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) contains 15 primary source documents on determining indirect cost rates in research libraries. The kit comprises: (1) six library cost studies and surveys, "Allocation of Library Expenditures to Research and Instruction" (University of Pennsylvania), "Sampling of Current Monograph…

This empirical research examined scale economies of academic research libraries and developed a total cost function for estimating economies of scale. Suggests that libraries in general, and academic research libraries in particular, are information provision organizations that provide multiproducts and multiservices. Findings indicate that slight…

The rationale for using Activity-Based Costing (ABC) in a library is to allocate indirect costs to products and services based on the factors that most influence them. This paper discusses the benefits of ABC to library managers and explains the steps involved in implementing ABC in the user services area of an Australian academic library.…

Discusses the need for research libraries to develop a greater sense of financial accountability, both from a moral standpoint and to provide better services. Topics covered include areas where cost benefit tradeoffs have been neglected, possible consequences of not becoming accountable, and the debate over user fees. (12 references) (CLB)

Tabular data are presented on 107 university and 12 non-university research libraries' holdings and operating expenditures, providing information by library rank on volumes in library; volumes added; current serials; total staff; and total expenditures. A graph depicts percentages for operating expenditures. (DB)

The 1990-91 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) preservation questionnaire, the results of which are reported in this volume, was designed to yield statistical information on the current level of preservation efforts in research libraries and on the key organizational, functional, and fiscal components that characterize preservation programs.…

Discussion of the rising costs of academic library materials and their effects on collection development focuses on the social science collection. It is suggested that combining the numerical weights used by the Research Libraries Group Conspectus to evaluate subject collections with estimates of publication production and changes provides a…

Considers the decision that branch libraries, music libraries in particular, have struggled with concerning a centralized location in the main library versus a decentralized collection. Reports on a study of the Association of Research Libraries that investigated the location of music libraries, motivation for the location, degrees offered,…

In January 1983 the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) surveyed its members regarding their fund raising programs. A response rate of 85% (95 out of 113 libraries surveyed) was obtained. It was found that 85% of ARL member libraries had been involved in university-wide fund campaigns; that over 75% of the respondents had also conducted…

Discusses the pressure placed on research libraries to maintain a balanced collection of serials and monographs, and presents an allocation formula for serial versus monograph budgeting. The formula is based on the findings of over 50 studies that used citation analysis to determine the actual percentage of serials versus monographs used by…

This set of minutes from a semiannual meeting of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) includes three presentations: "The Economics of Document Delivery" by Donald B. Simpson, "Electronic Journal Publishing and Libraries" by Jay K. Lucker, and "Policies and Controversies" by Hugh C. Atkinson. Atkinson reviews…

This document presents data from 115 U.S. and Canadian research libraries that were members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) during the 1993-94 fiscal year. The Preservation Statistics questionnaire which is included is designed to yield statistical information on the current level of preservation efforts in research libraries, and…

This document consists of a complete run of "ARL Preservation Statistics" from its inception in 1988 through 1993, a total of 5 issues: 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93. The annual "ARL Preservation Statistics" questionnaire is designed to yield statistical information on the current level of preservation efforts in…

Based on responses to a survey from 79 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, this Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit explores how these libraries are currently addressing management issues associated with materials budgets. The survey addressed the following broad areas: how libraries define their materials…

The rising prices of journals and serials--major information sources for academic and research communities--are explored in this work, which presents two contractor reports on the topic. These two reports are introduced by an overview and summary together with recommendations for further Association of Research Libraries (ARL) action, short…