A 1971 study recommended installing an electronic security system at the University of Pennsylvania library. A comparison of pre- and postinstallation estimated loss rates is given. A costs/benefits analysis based on the new estimated loss rates and factors affecting loss rate estimates are discussed. ( Author/JAB)

The educational role of college libraries in India is discussed and a national effort is advocated to equip them properly. Consideration is given to the present condition of the libraries, including collections, finances, technical organization, administration, personnel, services, physical facilities, standards, and cooperation. (LBH)

Problems of library usage, which are the common responsibility of the whole academic community, are discussed from the personal viewpoint of a librarian in New Delhi, India. Suggestions for orientation and motivation are offered. (LBH)

Comparative statistics are tabulated for volumes in the library, volumes added, current serials, total staff, and total expenditures for 113 university and 12 non-university libraries. The data are from the Association of Research Libraries. (LB)

Reviews a wide range of retrieval problems that arose with the implementation of an online catalog in an academic library, especially the problem of retrieving uniform titles coded as authors. The need for changes in the underlying format of coding uniform titles as a universal solution is discussed. (Author/CLB)

Four models for conceptualizing a circulation matrix containing the number of books borrowed according to subject and majors of student borrowers compare (1) majors; (2) subjects; (3) disciplines, suppressing the distinction between majors and subjects; and (4) majors with subjects. Results of multidimensional scaling analysis of the models are…

Discusses the significance of the reference interview and the need for better communication between Black students and White librarians. Sensitivity and understanding of Black behaviors are recommended as ways of building trust between librarians and students. (52 references) (MES)

Students at the University of Mississippi were surveyed to compare the usefulness of two types of workbooks in a library/freshman English bibliographic instruction program. The workbook used in the first year of the study required short answers to reference questions; the revised workbook, used the second year, required answers related to term…

A Study of the effects of a one-hour credit course in bibliographic instruction on students' attitudes and library skills compared their scores on an attitudinal survey and objective skills test administered at the first and last classes. Improvement was found in both areas. A copy of the skills test is appended. (2 references) (MES)

Surveys of labor educators and academic librarians, designed to study library usage by participants in labor education, indicate that a lack of communication and understanding exists between the two departments at many institutions. Increased cooperation and library utilization are recommended. Twenty-seven references are listed, and the…

Automation of a table of contents service at the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing Library using dBase III facilitates matching patrons with journals. The program is also used for journal check-in and mailing labels. Future applications may include production of a journal holdings list, statistics, and reporting. (21 references) (MES)

The third annual survey on use of audio- and videocassettes in public, academic, and special libraries covered: (1) collection size; (2) budget support; (3) sources for selection and acquisition; (4) fees and publicity; and (5) problems. It was concluded that audio- and videocassettes and libraries are inextricably linked. (MES)

Describes a study that examined the attitudes of academic librarians toward disabled persons in relation to the librarian's sex, age, level of information about disabilities, and degree of contact with disabled persons. The impact of librarian attitudes on library services to disabled students is discussed. (12 references) (CLB)

The first of two articles discusses the obstacles to and advantages of cooperative systems planning and development by a team of academic librarians and computing center staff. The second examines the differences in funding approaches to libraries and computer centers, and budgetary problems involved when the two organizations share computer…

Compares features of online public access catalogs (OPACs) at six British universities: (1) Cambridge; (2) Hull; (3) Newcastle; (4) Surrey; (5) Sussex; and (6) York. Results of keyword subject searches on two topics performed on each of the OPACs are reported and compared. Six references are listed. (MES)