Examines the faculty-librarian relationship, explores the contentious territories of professional credibility and identity, and analyzes changes in Australian higher education that impact the educational role of librarians related to information literacy. Discusses attitudes of faculty toward collaboration with librarians and how well prepared…

Discusses personal digital assistants (PDAs). Highlights include history and characteristics of PDAs; beyond the "organizer" function and use of PDAs in higher education and academic libraries; problems and possibilities of a wirelessly networked PDA in a library; and the future outlook for PDAs. (AEF)

Discusses the need for organizational change in academic research libraries, based on a study of a small group of libraries that had experienced varying degrees of restructuring and had analyzed factors that energized change. Highlights include organizational flexibility, external or client-centered orientation, staff empowerment, and improving…

Although weeding can save libraries money, shelving time, and increase circulation, it can create serious political problems for college librarians. Proposes a method of compiling lists of candidate titles for weeding based on a comparison of recommended titles lists contained in three editions (1967, 1975, 1988) of Books for College Libraries.…

Discusses usage data that vendors should share with their information provider subscribers as well as additional helpful tools vendors could develop. Highlights include increased competition; integration of advanced technology; information literacy; examples from OneSource Information Services, Inc.; and an analysis of vendor usage statistics at…

Describes a study that investigated the use of electronic book devices by college students, professors, and librarians. Topics include the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs); challenges for libraries, including policies for PDAs; technological problems with PDAs; and student attitudes. (LRW)

This empirical research examined scale economies of academic research libraries that belong to the Association of Research Libraries and developed a total cost function for estimating economies of scale. Argues that libraries are information provision organizations that provide multiproducts and multiservices and compares this study with previous…

Discusses the results of responses from 63 academic libraries about the choice and content of their default home Web pages. Shows that some branch libraries display a main library Web page as the default home page for their public computers, while others display a branch library page. (Author/LRW)

This usability study examines how students use electronic research libraries such as Questia, which has been designed to replace traditional libraries, and compares it with large university library Web sites. Suggests that design features incorporated by Web site designers can drastically affect the success of students doing research. (Author/LRW)

Reports on research that focused on competence and performance of reference libraries in academic libraries in Nigeria. Includes recommendations for improving competence and performance, including the reference process; staffing and other resources; education for reference librarians; knowledge of modern technology; and emotional stability and…

Describes the "Excellence in Academic Libraries" award in the university division from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Discusses the history of the award; results of the award; winning libraries as examples of excellence; cash award; and campus impact. (AEF)

Discussion of the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) E-Metrics project focuses on understanding how academic libraries might specify, produce, and assess institutional outcomes. Offers a framework for approaching the outcomes assessment process and suggests that multiple approaches to assessment are needed for an assessment of libraries in…

Discussion of remote access to library services focuses on proxy servers as a method for remote access, based on experiences at Saint Mary's University (Halifax). Topics include Internet protocol user validation; browser-directed proxies; server software proxies; vendor alternatives for validating remote users; and Internet security issues. (LRW)

Explores how the four-part model of transition cycles applies to becoming a chief librarian of an academic library. Considers the four stages from various organizational levels, as well as for their psychological and social impact on the new job incumbent, and presents an instrument for assessment of transitional success. (Author/LRW)

Considers job rotation, the systematic movement of employees from one job to another, as one of the tools for organizational development. Reviews relevant print and Internet literature, discusses the pros and cons of job rotation, and describes experiences at the Ryerson University library to illustrate process. (Author/LRW)