Texas A&M University and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) under the New Measures initiative are engaged in a project to evaluate service quality in research libraries using an augmented SERVQUAL instrument. In spring 2000, 13 ARL libraries in North America invited a random sample of students and faculty to take the survey through…

This paper suggests that libraries are losing market share and can address external threats from competition through unique partnerships and technological innovation. The concepts of competition, technological discontinuities, and innovation are discussed. The following four projects at the Scholarly Communication Center (SCC) of the Rutgers…

In a university environment, the library can benefit from interest in the digital future on the part of other concerned groups. Computer science departments are natural partners in the development of digital libraries. Professional societies, for-profit companies, and foundations are also potential sources of support. Cornell University Library…

One of the major issues in the management of academic libraries is the dual nature of staffing: the professional and the paraprofessional. Using the Academic Affairs Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a case study, this project investigates whether professional and paraprofessional staff in large academic libraries…

Discusses guidelines established by the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries and the Canadian Association of University Teachers concerning academic status for librarians. Fundamental issues highlighted are librarian workloads, release time, professional status, and relevance of evaluation criteria and procedures. (EJS)

Using random selection of citations from journal articles, two specific permutations of the citation checking approach to university library collection evaluation are tested on political science collections in five university libraries in the Washington, D.C. area. The history of the citation checking approach is reviewed. Forty-three references…

Discusses service standards (level of excellence or adequacy in performance of library service) and their incorporation in the accreditation process for hospital library service and academic health sciences libraries. The certification program developed for health sciences librarians by the Medical Library Association is reviewed. Fifty-nine…

Identifies leading issues in academic reference service based on survey of literature with emphasis on 1970s and 1980s--bibliographic instruction, computer-based reference and biliographic services, personnel-related topics (specialists, generalists, professional development, nonprofessionals in reference service), measurement and evaluation, and…

Introduces four models of data library development for meeting information needs for machine-readable data files--University of Florida facility, University of British Columbia Data Library, Data and Program Library Service at University of Wisconsin, and online numeric Kentucky Economic Information System at University of Kentucky. Four…

Examines five factors critical to the successful functioning of search analysts as reference librarians: professional training, background knowledge and working experience in references services, personality characteristics and interpersonal skills, the marketing of online services, and patron evaluations supplemented by postsearch reference…

A general review of the role of the library in education at all levels is followed by 10 theses which delineate some of the responsibilities of public, school, and academic libraries in this area. (EJS)

Presents results of a survey of users of Florida Library Information Network (FLIN), a statewide multitype interlibrary loan network. The paper centers on the role of academic libraries (the heaviest users) and discusses interlibrary loan staffing, request fulfillment, OCLC utilization, network performance and other factors. Eight references are…

Investigates relationship between number of card catalog access points provided for a group of randomly selected education book titles in academic library and number of times the same titles circulated in specified period of time. Research method, sample selection, and data collection and analysis are discussed. Twelve references are provided.…

This overview of the current capabilities of subject access in online public catalogs discusses keyword searching versus subject cataloging, users' views of the online catalog, and user-friendly versus user-hostile systems. Existing online catalogs in public and academic libraries are cited as examples. (EJS)

Argues that effective library service must provide access to a broad and unrestricted store of both traditional and popular information materials to serve the educational and informational needs of the public. Extensive lists of literary and audio resources for popular materials are provided, as well as 16 references. (RAA)