Discussion of difficulties in finding tests and measuring instruments for academic library users focuses on electronic databases. Highlights include the Educational Testing Service collection; eight databases for finding measures; Internet access to databases; other national and local databases; print sources of measures; and obtaining copies of…

Reviews time-saving approaches that can help academic librarians (or small libraries lacking collection development librarians) to maintain collections. A sidebar provides information on locating subject publication lists and appendices offer guidelines for collection weeding and sampling. (JMV)

Discusses integration of the government publications reference collection into the central reference collection at the University of Arizona library. Topics include the integration process, training methods, the training program effectiveness survey, perceptions of competence in reference provision, and an assessment of government documents…

Proposes that the interlibrary loan and document delivery department be used as a setting to train library science students about resource sharing, the practical operations of academic libraries, and the different facets of librarianship. Highlights training methods employed at the Health Sciences Library, University at Buffalo. (JMV)

Describes a study that compared figures derived from a questionnaire-based, book availability survey and from computer records of the use of the library's catalog. Although differences emerged, it was concluded that the computer monitoring technique could act as a surrogate for availability surveys. (AEF)

Discusses the economics and value of information and describes a study that compared an objective measure, the estimated direct costs to a library to purchase materials or provide services used by specific users, with a subjective measure, exchange values those users would pay for the information. (LRW)

Analyzes the trend of increased budget cutting in public and academic libraries. Examines the use of fee-based services as a source of revenue, a way of supplementing basic library services, and a way of establishing a marketplace for library services. Discusses causes of budgetary cuts and offers a futuristic model for library services. (JMV)

Identifies and documents the economic costs of faculty status for academic librarians. Costs include travel expenses for conferences, resources for writing papers and sending surveys, and other research. Encourages campus and library managers to employ economic principles as a methodology by which to analyze their institutions. (Author/AEF)

Examines unionization and job satisfaction among professional librarians in academic research institutions. A comparison of survey results of union and nonunion participants revealed the presence of unions has a negative relationship with job satisfaction; salaries and part-time status are also considered as predictors of job satisfaction.…

Reports results of a study that used an online survey, focus groups, and logs of telnet connections to examine Internet use when accessed through the University of Toronto Library (Canada). Discusses needs of Internet users and reveals patterns of Internet use. An appendix contains the online survey. (JMV)

A survey of gay and lesbian library services of 250 public and college libraries revealed small and insufficient collections, a lack of book lists and other guides, frequent challenges, and limited community outreach programs. Interviews with proactive responding librarians provide some strategies for change. (Author/AEF)

Examines the Wallace Library Computer Access System at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Sources of 892 interlibrary loan requests processed between January 1 and March 31, 1992, were studied to determine how patrons used this increased access to electronic resources. Information on the source of requests, patrons, materials, and fill rates…

The digital library encompasses the application of high-performance computers and networks to the production, distribution, management, and use of knowledge in research and education. A joint project by three federal agencies, which is investing in digital library initiatives at six universities, is discussed. A sidebar provides issues to consider…

Presents the results of a survey of university library directors and other academic administrators to determine attitudes toward networked electronic publishing of research articles; concludes that academic administrators do not consider the academic community well equipped for electronic publishing and would not give it high priority in the…

Course analysis and course descriptions have been used in a wide range of academic library assessment and decision-making projects; the analysis techniques of getting and representing the information and the descriptive formats (classification schedules, subject headings, and keyword queries) are compared and principles are established for…