This review of the positive and negative impact of centralization of library collections and services on library staff and quality of services focuses on reference services. The move from decentralized to centralized library services at Louisiana State University is discussed as well as the effect of automation on that configuration. (Author/CLB)

This report examines the costs of and services provided by the three major bibliographic utilities, OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network), and WLN (Western Library Network). The services examined include acquisitions, cataloging, interlibrary loan, and reference. To examine costs, the format of the…

Several reference librarians respond to the Hernon and McClure study on the accuracy of library reference services. Highlights include problems with the methodology used (unobtrusive observation), and performance factors not addressed by the study. Comments by Hernon and McClure address these responses and ways to improve reference services are…

Describes the addition of a collection management module to an advanced reference course in the arts and humanities, and reports the preliminary findings of a practicum that used the Research Libraries Group Conspectus as a basis for collection analysis in the humanities for a university library. (Author/CLB)

This study investigates the availability and practicality of using affordable commercial document delivery systems instead of conventional interlibrary loan (ILL) to provide California State College, Bakersfield (CSB), Library users with periodical literature from off-site locations. The purpose, limits, conceptual framework, and importance of the…

To determine if further library-services issues require more study and whether further initiatives should be undertaken, the Division for Library Services of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction conducted a focus-group study. Nineteen library directors from small public libraries took part. Eight services librarians or directors from…

This document reports the findings of a study group charged with reviewing the current and future prospects for database searching and electronic access to information in the Library of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Specific points of interest include factors influencing the demand for these services, costs of providing the services,…

This study is the final report from the National Center for Education Statistics task force on redesign of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Following an executive summary outlining the need for changes and a series of recommendations, Section 1 details the reasons, goals, and processes involved in the IPEDS redesign.…

The goal of Maine's Dissemination Capacity Building Project--the Information Exchange--is to build a comprehensive system for disseminating current information resources to Maine educators at every organizational level. This report begins with an abstract describing three major components of the information exchange: (1) a computerized information…

The goals of the Arkansas Capacity Building Dissemination Project (Project AID--Arkansas Information Dissemination) were to (1) increase the use of information for decision-making in Arkansas, (2) increase implementation of beneficial programs and practices in Arkansas schools, (3) develop a strong dissemination and communication staff at the…

This document comprises Vermont's final Five Year Management Report to the National Institute of Education on its Capacity Building Dissemination Project grant (1980-1985). The overall goals of the grant were (1) to develop a two-way communication network among the Vermont Department of Education, other public and private agencies, and Vermont…

The purpose of the Tennessee Dissemination Capacity Building Project was to build an information acquisition, retrieval, and referral system. This system, known as Project Support, provided information models in order to foster a capacity for a comprehensive State Department of Education dissemination system. The dissemination system provided…