Identifies resource allocation patterns and establishes a basis for understanding academic library service costs through a cost analysis of public services. Results of a survey of 101 academic libraries indicate that libraries have responded to increased costs for resource materials by increasing that budget and decreasing the budget for salaries.…

Discussion of the reassessment of undergraduate education focuses on the element of critical thinking. Topics include language and reasoning, the power of stories and narrative structure, critical thinking and bibliographic instruction, enrichment reading and academic libraries, reasoning in an image and electronic culture, and the role of the…

An Association of Research Libraries survey of Alabama public university libraries revealed that disabled populations on campuses were not being served; 27 questions were divided into categories of general information, management and training, space, and general services. Reasons for lack of preparation included lack of knowledge and funding. The…

Identifies characteristics of three editions of "Books for College Libraries" (BCL) in relation to literature by women. Fifty authors selected from "The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Tradition in English" are compared to the holdings of BCL, a core bibliography for undergraduate libraries. Five tables provide results. (Author/AEF)

Discusses vandalism of library materials based on an incident at Ohio University where a journalism student was caught ripping pages out of a magazine. Topics addressed include attitudes of college students and faculty; ethics of journalism; and the consequences of library vandalism at Ohio University and other universities. (LRW)

Presents a study by Texas A&M University to find steps to improve access to engineering society technical papers. Steps include: consolidating indexes, creating finding guides, changing shelving procedures, and utilizing gopher-client servers. A table displays indexing results via an online system and appendixes offer an example of a gopher…

Discussion of the use of Total Quality Management (TQM) in higher education and academic libraries focuses on the identification, collection, and use of reliable data. Methods for measuring quality, including benchmarking, are described; performance measures are considered; and benchmarking techniques are examined. (11 references) (MES)

Discusses the use of trained paraprofessionals, part-time professional catalogers, and contract cataloging to manage the increased needs for original cataloging as the pool of professional catalogers diminishes. A training program for paraprofessionals is suggested, using professionals as trainers and mentors. (10 references/notes) (EA)

The returning student, facing technological change with many demands on her time, needs all the help academic librarians can offer. Fundamental needs include effective bibliographic instruction, informational handouts, printed directions near electronic search tools, and an emotionally supportive environment. (EA)

Urges the design and implementation of strategies in academic libraries for the development of leadership potential. Discusses the components of organizations that lead to organizational maturity, and calls for library leaders with vision, skill, and commitment to nurture an organizational culture that emphasizes leadership development. (20…

Reviews research on impact assessment of libraries and considers potentially useful methodologies for measuring the impact of university libraries, i.e., how library use affects students' academic performance. Topics discussed include categories of library use, purposes of library use, and indicators of library impact. The user panel methodology…

Describes a project that was designed to study the effectiveness and efficiency of editing procedures within an online bibliographic system at a large research university library. A comprehensive statistical overview of editing commands available is presented, frequency of their use is studied, and questions for further research are suggested.…

Reports results of a bibliometric analysis of referencing patterns within journal articles published in "College and Research Libraries" (C&RL) and the "Journal of Academic Librarianship" (JAL) from 1984 through 1986. Comparisons are made between scholarliness, commonality of research bases, and relative contributions; and…

Periodicals librarians in libraries supporting smaller public colleges and universities were surveyed on issues concerning their serials collections. Findings indicate cost increases are a problem, but most respondents believe their collections are meeting institutional demands. Questions remain, however, about the influence of rising periodical…

Reports results of a 1990 survey of 33 British university libraries regarding current funding patterns. Following a discussion of recent political and funding trends in higher education and major issues facing university libraries, data are provided on student enrollment, number of academic staff, payroll and nonpayroll budgets, and acquisitions…