Discusses broad trends in planning academic library buildings: (1) greater differentiation between storage and user space; (2) retention of existing facilities; (3) incremental growth; (4) tighter programming; (5) increased protection of life and property; (6) dispersal of formats and equipment; and (7) accommodation of nonlibrary functions. (20…

Identifies factors which may account for user dissatisfaction with online public access catalogs (OPACs) and discusses some advantages of OPACs over card catalogs: (1) design for subject searching; (2) flexibility; (3) browsing capability; (4) precision; (5) availability of status information; and (6) development of microcomputer software to…

Describes the following aspects of an information session held by the reference staff at Northwestern University to explain the nature of their work to their technical services counterparts: (1) motivation for the session; (2) goals; (3) format; (4) reference service issues; (5) reaction; (6) elements of success of the session; and (7) future…

This description of Info Trac, a laser disc periodical reference system, reviews professional reactions to the system and several user studies. Criticisms are discussed to define the role of such systems in research libraries, and data are presented in five tables. (17 references) (MES)

Argues that problems of managing coexistence of collegial and hierarchical governance structures in university libraries may include accountability, lack of organizational flexibility, time requirements, communication between structures, lessening of librarian's interest in function of line management, potential for goal conflict, and lack of…

This study examines data reflecting the actual impact during the first 3 years of use of the second edition of the Anglo American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) in one library, and compares them with a 5-year projection done in 1980. Findings showed the impact was close to the projection. (Author/EM)

Introductory biology students at a major university completed a field project which taught them investigative skills in scientific research, including the scientific method and substantiation of their results through use of periodical literature. Librarians became actively involved by providing library instruction as part of the project. Sample…

Describes steps taken by the Weldon Law Library at Dalhousie University in salvaging books damaged in a major fire, including procedures and processes used in packing, sorting, drying, and cleaning the books. The need for a disaster plan for specific libraries is emphasized, and some suggestions are made. (CDD)

Describes the benefits to researchers of the microfiche publication of the "National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States," which consists of finding aids for U.S. manuscript and archival collections. Arranged in four parts based on origin, each is described in detail as to scope and arrangement. (EM)

Suggests steps to be taken regarding six issues affecting the future of information with particular focus on research libraries: end campus compartmentalization (integration of research libraries and computing centers), overcome research library division, accept institutional interdependence, sort out public/private sector roles, build networks of…

Suggests that fundamental questions with broad policy implications and a perspective that approaches academic library from patron's point of view remain to be asked about library costs, collections and their use, library users, and both the academic setting itself and the people who work within it. Seventeen references are cited. (EJS)

Results of a 1969 survey by Carol Nemeyer of scholarly reprint activity in United States are reviewed in light of subsequent trends. Although replication of survey is not recommended, certain aspects that merit continued study are discussed with emphasis on the role of academic librarians in scholarly reprint selection. (36 references) (EJS)

Discussion of professional status of the college librarian includes a definition of "colleges," decline of status of college library in American Library Association and Association of College and Research Libraries, crisis in higher education and implications for colleges, bias against "small" in academic librarianship,…

Librarians can promote and improve their programs of bibliographic instruction through a faculty development effort on undergraduate use of the college library. Results of this kind of program have included improved course assignment formulation, imaginative assignments, and new, library-centered courses. (MSE)

This document presents data from 124 U.S. and Canadian research libraries that were members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) during the 2001-2002 fiscal year. Since 1987-1988, the number of preservation programs managed by a preservation administrator has grown irregularly from 66 to around 80 in more recent years. A fluctuating…