This study examines the use of chat in an academic library's user population and where virtual reference services might fit within the spectrum of public services offered by academic libraries. Using questionnaires, this research demonstrates that many within the academic community are open to the idea of chat-based reference or using chat for…

Are we witnessing the privatization of public university research libraries? There is convincing evidence that, in an era of decreasing state support for public higher education, public universities have begun to resemble private universities, particularly in their sources of revenue. A number of indicators demonstrate that public universities,…

This paper examines the third fair use standard in section 107 of the 1976 Copyright Act--"the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole"--as it applies to copying for extended classroom uses such as library reserve. The guidelines are interpreted in terms of amount, substantiality,…

This cumulative bibliography of State University at Albany (New York) doctoral dissertations, which spans the years 1979-1989, is not simply a compilation of previous supplements. It is based on an examination of the University Libraries' doctoral dissertation collection as reflected in the online and printed library catalogs. It is also the…

Academic libraries are particularly affected by current financial problems in U.S. higher education. Lack of funds to make transitions as rapidly as higher education has changed focus or added dimensions is a recurrent theme in academic library development. This article presents the major developments and critical points of U.S. higher education…

Trends between the personnel-materials budget ratios were analyzed for a group of academic libraries with 400,000 volumes or more in 1967 and 1975. There has been a continuous increase in the percentage that libraries allocate for personnel, and automation has not reduced the outlay for salaries and wages. (Author/JPF)

A simple algebraic method of compensating for inflation while allocating the book budget by funds is presented. The results of attempts to generate library-resource unit cost figures based on internal measurement of buying patterns are described. (Author)

For the academic library director there is a multitude of expectations derived from diverse and often conflicting individuals and groups with whom this individual is concerned. Utilizing the framework of role theory, this study describes and analyzes the role of the library director. (Author/AP)

Traces activities, problems, and decision making in converting from a card catalog to a computer output microfilm (COM) catalog in an academic library. (KP)

Reviews nomenclature-related problems for users of Chemical Abstracts (CA) and describes online techniques for searching with generic/trade/common names, non-CA index names, and CA index names using CAS-Online via STN (Scientific and Technical Information Network). Terms used in the online substance display format are explained. (10 references)…

Discussion of Humanistic Management by Teamwork (HMBT) rationalizes a preference for HMBT in academic library management. The University of New Mexico's Zia model of library organization is described as an example of HMBT, and several benefits of the Zia model are summarized. (MES)

Summarizes the three main characteristics of Japanese management style and discusses its applicability to academic library management in the United States. Responses from 10 readers of advance copies of the article are included. (6 references) (MES)

The second of a two-part series on collections of Afro-Americana discusses the history and holdings of the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, and the Special Collections at the Fisk University Library. (33 references) (MES)

Discusses the increasing percentage of documents distributed only in microform by the Government Printing Office, and describes the strategy undertaken by the University of Nevada-Reno Libraries to mainstream these microforms into the government documents collection, thus encouraging their use by library patrons. (13 references) (Author/MES)