This publication provides librarians with a broader understanding of outsourcing issues in academic libraries. The book investigates the literature, then presents a survey of more than 200 academic research libraries involved with outsourcing projects. This book synthesizes prevailing theories and practice, details pros and cons, an outlines steps for planning and implementing a successful outsourcing program. In addition to defining outsourcing, describing its three phases -- planning, implementation, and managing, discussing how it operates in academic libraries, and reporting survey findings, the book examine outsourcing in relation to collection development, acquisitions and serials management, cataloging, retrospective conversion, authority control, preservation, and public services and systems. Chapters include: (1) "Outsourcing: An Overview"; (2) "Outsourcing and Academic Libraries"; (3) "The Three Phases of Outsourcing"; (4) "Outsourcing Survey Results"; (5) "Collection Development"; (6) "Acquisitions and Serials Management"; (7) "Cataloging"; (8) "Retrospective Conversion"; (9) "Authority Control"; (10) "Preservation"; (11) "Public Services and Systems"; and (12) "Conclusion." An appendix contains survey questions and results, a list of 262 suggested readings, and an alphabetical index. (DLS)