Discusses electronic resources and collection development. Topics include how electronic resources are changing the world of access to information; how and why scholars and research libraries use electronic resources; digitization initiatives; knowledge and learning via the Web; archiving electronic resources; and building collections versus…

Describes an initiative of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Scholars Portal Initiative, a three-year collaborative effort which seeks to provide tools for an academic community to have a single point of access on the Web to find high-quality information resources and to deliver the information and related services directly to the…

Summarizes the debate concerning use of desks versus counters in reference areas of academic libraries. Librarians argued whether patrons were more likely to approach a standing or a sitting librarian. In general, patrons preferred approaching a standing librarian; however, only small studies were conducted. In practice, libraries are designed in…

Librarians at the University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), in response to a new requirement for an information literacy component in the University's general education program, formed a committee, which quickly created a successful and flexible information literacy credit course. The committee's progress as they worked through…

Responds to an article that argued that the Internet is causing college libraries to reduce their resources. Suggests the library's role as a service provider cannot be supplanted by the Internet. Offers advice for increasing campus library usage, including librarian and faculty partnerships. (NB)

Examines the literature and explores expectations of undergraduates regarding lifelong learning and the library to propose a perceptual model of lifelong learning and user education. Suggests that a perceptual model can facilitate lifelong learning through education approaches geared to the sequential levels of skills needed by particular library…

Challenges librarians to create midlife leaves that will inspire professional growth and renewal and help define future career directions. Presents a framework for developing a successful leave based on experiences at Concordia University (Montreal) and offers examples of specific options, including internships, exchanges, conferences, community…

Discusses results of a usability study at the University of Illinois Chicago that investigated whether Internet search engines have influenced the way students search library Web sites. Results show students use the Web site's internal search engine rather than navigating through the pages; have difficulty interpreting library terminology; and…

Describes issues raised during a major reorganization and consolidation of reference services at Oregon State University. Attitudes of reference librarians and library administrators are reported, steps involved in the reorganization are outlined, and reactions from faculty are discussed with emphasis on the need for cooperation between librarians…

Describes study that was conducted using the "Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) Journal Citation Reports" to identify data sources used in the journals with the greatest impact factor in finance and financial accounting research. Results are reported that indicate heavy use of computer databases, government publications, and serials.…

Describes results of a survey that was conducted to compile statistical data on collection growth and library expenditures in academic libraries. Data from liberal arts college libraries are compared with data from members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), library statistics are discussed, and significant trends are described. (32…

Discussion of operational effectiveness in libraries focuses on a modeling approach that was used to compare the effectiveness of a local interlibrary loan system with using a national system, the British Library Document Supply Centre (BLDSC). Cost figures and surveys of five academic libraries are described. (six references) (LRW)

Describes the content, structure, and methodology of a bibliographic instruction module on the subject of modern French language and literature that was implemented at the University of Nice (France). The university library is described, library resources and services are explained, and an evaluation of the course is offered. (nine references)…

This article examines the technical access barriers that inhibit the effective use of the information resources available on higher education networks; the emerging information server technology that promises to alleviate many access problems; and the growing popularity of the Z39.50 protocol, including questions about this information retrieval…

Describes a study that compared the performance of two general approval plan vendors with that of two science and technology (sci/tech) specialty vendors in identifying sci/tech titles that matched a library profile. The areas discussed include overall coverage by vendors, representation of non-trade publishers, and difficulties in using approval…