Nine articles in this issue cover topics currently being discussed in serials librarianship: historical development, impact of technology, relationship of librarians and publishers of serials, collection development, management of serials automation, serials conversion, automated serials control, MARC format for holdings and locations, a union…

Describes the background, goals, methods, and results of a needs assessment study at the New York Public Library. This structured, phased self-examination was designed to form a consensus about the institution's long term needs and priorities. (CLB)

Describes a pilot project by a regional library system in central New York State to implement systematic planning activities in rural public libraries serving populations under 5,000. Motivations for the adoption of innovation and key elements in the decision making process during implementation are examined. (CLB)

Describes three computer programs that have been used to produce indexes, guides, and bibliographies for a university library: Interact, Script, and the Keyword in Context Package. The advantages and disadvantages of using the computer to produce such materials are reviewed, and nine references are listed. (RAA)

Psychological and physical segregation are not conditions intrinsic to the aging process--they are created and propagated by society's response to it. Eradication or reduction of older adults' role loss, collective stereotyped treatment, and physical separation require the awareness and application of gerontological concepts in public library…

Discussion of school library media center automation resulting from network participation provides a brief overview of the literature that mentions automation in conjunction with networks and a review of several model programs in Indiana, New York, and Ohio. Network participation in OCLC is noted. Twenty-three references are included. (EJS)

Focuses on the training of students in online bibliographic searching as introduced by school library media centers. The online process, teaching students to search, search steps, negative and positive aspects, and implications for school library media programs in three areas (student instruction, collection development, service goals) are…

Presents the Public Library Association's planning model for strategic planning in public libraries. The development of the model is explained, the basic steps of the planning process are described, and improvements to the model are suggested. (CLB)

The first part of the article describes the theoretical background of a library planning model based on the concept of right brain/left brain activities. The second describes the implementation of a short term planning model based on this theory. (CLB)

Describes how theories of instructional involvement of school media centers were applied at 49 schools in Pulaski County Special School District, Arkansas. Practical approaches for cooperation among media specialists, teachers, and administrators in library decision making and promotion of its role to enhance student learning are discussed. (CDD)

Describes two types of program budgeting that were well received in the literature of the 1960s and 1970s. The results of a survey which examined the impact of zero-based budgeting (ZBB) and planning-programming-budgeting system (PPBS) on library budgets are presented, and potentially useful aspects of program budgeting are identified. (CLB)

Study of 68 school media centers in 11 states was conducted to field-test collection mapping as a technique and to amass enough data to enable individual schools to compare their collections with national pool of school collections. Collections of participating schools were also compared to nationally recognized selection lists. (CDD)

Microfiche equipment and software were supplied to targeted junior and senior high school media centers and use of the total magazine collection was measured. Data on the third year of the project indicate the microfiche collection led to an 18 percent rise in number of successfully filled requests for magazines. (CDD)

Describes the role of computer record keeping in collection management and development of centralized film libraries serving school districts and demonstrates the ability of computers to gather and manipulate collection data that enable film managers to replace, expand, and duplicate materials according to user needs. (CDD)

Examines incorporation of local production of microcomputer software as part of school library media center services, highlighting need for local production, software types (adapting and altering commercial programs, finding and trading noncopyrighted programs, assisting in computer-assisted instruction authoring, programing computer lessons from…