This report describes the aspirations and inspirations as well as the data collection and analyses which constituted the first phase of activity under the Mellon Foundation grant to examine collection development and management at Cornell. The emphasis is mainly on analytical and planning processes rather than specific results during this first phase. Efforts for constituting a unified model for collection development have centered on identifying and elaborating the factors affecting these processes and on locating ways to evaluate each. Data collection is incomplete and some data elements may remain intractable; however, a comprehensive model remains a goal. This report, laying a foundation for research and planning during the second phase, is divided into eight sections. The first provides background and an overview. The second defines project goals in specific terms and develops a strategy to achieve them. The next three illustrate specific data gathered for purposes of collection development and evaluation. The focus is shifted in section six to various levels of decisions and decision-making within the libraries. Section seven concerns activities pertinent to collection management at Cornell and section eight summarizes the report. Appendices include project working papers, a summary list of data collected, and project chronology. (RAA)