Postmodernism is still the subject of vigorous ongoing debate in a variety of fields like education and anthropology and has now arrived in the literature of librarianship. Prior conflicts generated over postmodernism remain--including academic areas where it has been declared passe. This paper summarizes postmodernism and its intellectual…

Librarianship and library and information science (LIS) have long struggled with an ongoing lack of a theoretical and epistemological basis. There have been renewed efforts to explore various theoretical and philosophical positions and their meaning for librarianship and LIS research. This article explores the framework that Jurgen Habermas offers…

Designed to provide background for the planning of collection preservation programs in the libraries of the University of California, this paper presents an overview of the preservation problem, makes specific recommendations for further programs within the University of California library system, and assesses the needs of the system with regard…

Reports on a study to estimate the proportion of the University of Michigan's library collection needing preservation efforts and describes the rating scale used. (FM)

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…

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…

The digital humanities (DH) are attracting considerable attention and funding at the same time that this nascent field is striving for an identity. Some research libraries are making significant investments by creating digital humanities centers. However, questions about whether such investments are warranted persist across the cultural heritage…

"Research Library Issues" ("RLI") focuses on current and emerging topics that are strategically important to research libraries. The articles explore issues, share information, pose critical questions, and provide examples. This issue includes the following articles: (1) Special Issue on Copyright (Prudence S. Adler); (2) Fair…

Studies on the topic of obsolescence in literature are reviewed and it is concluded thatthe concept is not of practical use for librarians. An extensive list of studies in the field is appended. (PF)

Two studies concerned with optimizing the effectiveness of design of bibliographic materials given certain practical constraints are reported. (Author/PF)

Shows how simple probability theory can serve to remove the bias from a sample so that estimates of total yearly circulation and circulation distribution can be calculated from circulation desk data. (Author/PF)

Libraries must do some research before trying to establish a community information center. Librarians should consider feasibility, identify the target population, inventory community resources, define information needs, and provide for continuing study while the service is in operation. (LS)

Study of the development of libraries and librarianship may be done only historically, by analysis of the records of development. Such study necessarily is interpretive because historical study does not establish facts, but proceeds from them. In historical study an hypothesis may not be used as in scientific study, because the hypothesis is not…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) which was developed by the U. S. Navy as a management tool could be applied to a library process. Several chapters are devoted to an explanation of the tool and its advantages and limitations. Its potential value in library management is also…