This report summarizes research undertaken at the Sterling C. Evans Library, Texas A & M University to assess the impact that end user information retrieval systems may have on library staff and users. Two systems, BRS/After Dark and Search Helper, were made available in the library for end user searching at no cost. A total of 260 users…

The Management Review and Analysis Program (MRAP) provides resources and guidelines for a research library to use in conducting an internal assessment of management practices. The MRAP self-study project has two components: a procedural methodology for conducting the analysis, and a conceptual framework provided to assist in evaluation. The study…

Management principles and guidelines for the development of goals and objectives in the academic or research library are formulated. The intent of the goal statements is to draw on the management-by-objectives (MBO) techniques to develop a series of principles and guidelines which libraries can consider, evaluate, and adapt for local use. Sample…

Describes underlying rationale of program designed to offer recent library school graduates special training opportunities that focus on current issues, trends, and developments in academic librarianship. Recruitment, educational component of program, roles of supervisors and project director, and comments from three residents (expectations,…

Discusses features of online library catalogs and their cost characteristics, including financial management and planning (hardware and software options, turnkey vendors); approaches to cost analysis (actual experiences, building blocks); baseline estimates for two average academic libraries; and vendor estimates. Forty-five references and a…

Presents results of survey assessing the opinions of 76 Association of Research Libraries library directors concerning 19 educational competencies for research librarians. Results are analyzed regarding importance of competencies, their need in different positions, their possession by beginning librarians, and the adequacy of instruction in…

Surveys the new directions for research in the humanities that are both under way and projected. Digital applications and collaborative partnerships are key elements. Discusses collaboration and partnership; new strategic directions for the British Library; the British Library's e-strategy; collaborative e-ventures in support of research and…

Discusses the difficulties inherent in de-selecting (or weeding) a library collection. Examines the issue of making sound judgments regarding what should be weeded and how. Suggests alternatives to discarding books, such as remote storage, selling them back to patrons, and sharing within a consortium. (NB)

Reports on an analysis of job announcements for library and information professionals in research institutions revealing a trend toward hiring subject specialists and administrative and technical professionals without masters degrees in librarianship. Findings reveal variety in positions and professionals hired and change in stated employment…

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Libraries initiated its spin on digital libraries as a partner in a W. M. Keck Foundation grant awarded to the university in 1997. The overall grant ($2,250,000) supported a variety of earth science-related projects at UNR. The UNR Libraries's portion ($450,000) funded establishment of the W. M. Keck Earth…

This document consists of 6 issues (1 year) of a newsletter devoted to information and reports on issues and actions of interest to research libraries. Each issue contains articles on current issues, federal relations, and ARL activities as well as columns by the Coalition for Networked Information, the Office of Scientific and Academic…

This document consists of 12 issues (2 years) of a newsletter devoted to information and reports on issues and actions of interest to research libraries. Each of the 12 newsletters in the collection is divided into six topic areas: (1) current issues, which offers articles on topics such as library catalogs in the 21st century, libraries and…

The purpose of this study is to provide data for making decisions on whether to buy or borrow research materials and whether to use fee-based suppliers or interlibrary loan for obtaining photocopied materials. The study is based on 1991 information collected in a survey of 76 U.S. and Canadian research libraries. The cost per transaction is broken…

The following 12 papers in this report from the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) address management and preservation of research library resources, access to information resources, scholarly communication, research collections, and information policies: (1) "Management Issues That Keep Directors Awake at Night: (Joanne Euster); (2)…

Intended to contribute to a better understanding of research library development in the United States, this report describes the history of the development of the library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin from 1904 to 1918. It is based on records of the relationships between three principals--John R. Commons and Richard T. Ely (members…