The Ward Edwards Library of Central Missouri State University attempts to collect the materials necessary to support classroom needs and faculty research. This assessment gauges how well the library print collection supports the Department of Communication, in which undergraduate majors and postgraduate degrees are offered in a total of 85…

The need for reference books, selection guidelines, issues about circulation, descriptions of various types of books, and ideas for promoting the use of these books in a congregational library are covered in this guide. The work opens with a discussion of what reference books are and broad guidelines for deciding which books should be in a…

This study was conducted to learn the extent to which member institutions of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) with Blackwell North America (B/NA) approval plans covering philosophy and political science are duplicating collections, and to determine what supplementary collection development practices are being used. Initial data were…

Tracing the history of South Dakota State University's Hilton M. Briggs Library over the past 102 years, this occasional paper describes the development of what is now the largest library (over 1.1 million total pieces) in the South Dakota Library Network from its inception as part of a small land grant college. Administrative eras are reviewed,…

Examines the role of commercial document delivery. Discusses interlibrary loan (ILL); access versus ownership decision making; degree of use and patron use of commercial document delivery; and use of library materials funds. Concludes that document delivery will not totally replace ownership or ILL, but that it is becoming more important because…

Library patron demands will exert increasing influence over the allocation of materials budgets. To determine the extent to which data produced by automated systems are used to guide collection development, a questionnaire was sent to the 108 university library members of the Association of Research Libraries. Responses (n=79) showed that such…

Identifies library values affected by technology, including respect for and privacy of the individual, equality of user needs, and freedom of purpose and access. Fundamental changes that may result from technology are predicted in the areas of the library role, functions of staff, fees for services and document delivery, and costs of local and…

Discusses library collection evaluation and its relationship to the acquisitions budget. Topics addressed include the publishing industry; library services that are more user centered; acquisition of versus access to sources of information and knowledge; the concept of value; library accountability; objectives and setting priorities; and levels of…

Discusses policies and attitudes prevalent in public libraries that encourage female users and discourage male users. The lack of technical books that may appeal more to men is examined, the lack of appropriate reviews is described, subconscious classism is suggested, and differences in fiction preferences are discussed. (two references) (LRW)

Describes an inexpensive method for analyzing the cost-effectiveness of a liberal arts college's journal collection, based on measurements of journal use, journal subscription prices, and course enrollment by academic department. Explains data collection methods and presents results of collection analysis. Discusses the benefits of empirical…

This document is an introductory guide to all aspects of law librarianship. Chapters 1 and 2 provide an overview of the history and nature of law libraries and the nature of the legal field and legal clientele. Collection development is discussed in chapter 3, covering such aspects as acquisitions, alternatives to purchasing materials, selection…

This survey was conducted in order to determine how well the students at Minot State University (North Dakota) feel the Gordon B. Olson Library is fulfilling its mission of providing them with "convenient access to high quality information resources and services which support teaching, learning, and research." One objective of this…

The purpose of this research was to look at the currency of the collection of a small public library and to determine the relationship between the amount of usage of the collection and the currency of publications in the collection. A 10% systematic sample was taken of the circulating nonfiction adult shelf list of the Franklin Public Library…

Approximately 30 policies and classed profiles are presented in this first comprehensive collection development policy statement for the California State University at Sacramento (CSUS) Library. The profiles--which comprise the bulk of the text--were prepared by examining each part of the curriculum and matching each with the corresponding call…

Designed as a simple how-to guide, this handbook presents guidelines for setting up a church or synagogue library or revitalizing an existing one. The first of 10 sections, "Begin with a Purpose," advocates thinking about the goals of the library and putting them in writing. It includes two brief sample mission statements. The second, "Establish…