Discusses the effects of copyright law and the ownership of intellectual ideas on scholarly publishing. The effectiveness of copyright law for scholarly and academic publishing is considered, university-based networks for scholarly publishing are described, and problems with and possibilities for electronic journals are examined. (31 references)…

Addresses misconceptions concerning CD-ROM technology. Topics discussed include changes in CD-ROMs and possible obsolescence; high-speed wide area networks, frequency of updates, and pricing; CD-ROM databases in academic libraries; local area networks; interfaces between CD-ROM drives and computers; CD-ROM speed; uses of CD-ROM; and write-once CD…

Summarizes the elements of the Cornell-Yale digitization model and shows how Michigan State University (MSU) has expanded the model, focusing on a project to digitize the American Radicalism Collection of the MSU Libraries. Issues of selection, quality, integrity, longevity, and access are discussed. Sidebars present MSU digitizing procedures,…

Discusses and analyzes information on personnel, gate count, and hours of operation in ARL (Association of Research Libraries) academic science and technology libraries for 1992-93. Data are then compared to similar data taken from the survey of academic health-sciences libraries, and potential comparisons with other library surveys are briefly…

Describes a project at Carnegie Mellon University libraries to convert the congressional papers of the late Senator John Heinz to digital format and to create an online system to search and retrieve these papers. Highlights include scanning, optical character recognition, and a search engine utilizing natural language processing. (Author/LRW)

Discusses whether to provide library instruction for undergraduate chemistry majors as a separate class or integrated into courses, particularly for those who receive a degree certified by the American Chemical Society. The authors suggest that a librarian coordinate course-integrated instruction throughout the undergraduate curriculum. (LRW)

Describes the four-step process of designing a library systems office at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): (1) Collect Data: Why Create a Systems Office; (2) Organize and Present Preliminary Data: Educate and Involve Stakeholders; (3) Identify Actions: Write a Plan; and (4) Implement. Addresses the major problems encountered,…

Allocating adequate materials funds from the university operation budget is essential if libraries in China's key universities are to successfully support their learning and research communities. This article examines funding problems, and suggests proposals for change: establish a deducting-percentage system; enhance integrated resources…

Describes a study that was conducted to determine whether bibliographic instruction methods used in an academic library's computer classroom were effective. Teacher-education students were tested using pretests and posttests designed to determine their knowledge and skill in using library technology to obtain research information. The tests are…

Describes the framework in which the research library at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) reengineered its technical services operations. Focuses on the activities of the "Before Team" in evaluating, measuring, and redesigning the work processes that occur before the library receives an item. Discusses the results. (Author/AEF)

An American delegation assesses how children are faring as libraries in China adapt to the contradictions of a socialist market economy. Discussion includes examples of public-, academic-, and school-library programs, librarian attitudes, technology, and future changes. (AEF)

Library construction continues to thrive as money allows for new and remodeled buildings. This year's 197 public projects alone account for $543 million. The 81 new buildings join 116 additions/remodels and 35 academic libraries. Five tables provide statistics on new buildings and additions/renovations by name of institution and by state and…

The purpose of this research was to identify the service factors that influence judgments of customer satisfaction in the academic library/media center. The study, conducted at Florida State University examined the relative importance of these determinants of service quality and compared these results to earlier studies conducted with customers of…

Describes the Scoville Learning Center at Adirondack Community College (Queensbury, New York). Discusses the layout and functions of the building's three floors and learning-resources services, including staff, library instruction seminars, the online catalog, outreach, equipment, computer labs, and future plans. (AEF)

Describes the use of questionnaires and interviews for a study on the use of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Library (Nigeria) by international students. Problems faced by students are highlighted, including the language barrier, new services, and unfamiliar library terminology. (Author/LRW)