From its earliest beginnings to the post war information explosion, this text traces the history of the world's largest library, the Library of Congress (LC). The library's creation in 1800 for use by members of Congress is comprehensively discussed along with its development into a world wide service. Library methodology is covered in chapters on…

To aid in controlling the cost of acquisitions in a research library, techniques were developed for the rational selection of serial titles for cancellation. The context for the proposed methodology was a network or multicampus environment rather than an individual library, and it was tested with a specific body of health sciences serial titles in…

Designed as a practical guide for school librarians, this text outlines the functional procedures in the evaluation, selection, and utilization of print and nonprint materials and equipment. Part I focuses on the planning and administration of the school library. Part II includes planning and building of the collection. Part III provides…

Since the publication of the third edition of this book in 1961, numerous changes have occurred in the policies, procedures, functions and technology of academic librarianship. The present volume incorporates the literature of the past 13 years, and the author concludes that while the changes implied through the literature are significant and…

Weeding is one of the best ways to make long-term improvements to library collections, but it is also a difficult and sometimes painful task. In the tradition of previous editions, this book guides librarians in the process of methodical and efficient weeding. The book shows how to identify core collections versus the weedable items. The approach…

As a foundation for the future plans of the Leominster (Massachusetts) Public Library, a study was undertaken to: (1) analyze the physical, economic, and demographic characteristics of the community and their implication for library service; (2) evaluate present library services and identify unfilled needs; and (3) identify goals and objectives to…

Articles from "Library Talk" and "The Book Report" on school library management about setting goals, long-range planning, and the day-to-day operation of a school library are collected in looseleaf notebook format for the convenience of the librarian. Each section begins with a general discussion of the topic, followed by selected articles.…

This text focuses on decisions which affect library stock control or the acquisition and management of library materials. The book covers five areas: (1) a definition of the problem; (2) optimal size of library stock; (3) diagnosis of faulty control of book availability; (4) improvement of book availability; and (5) synthesis of theories and…

To search out areas for library cost reduction, a cost-effectiveness study of an overdue pickup operation was conducted. Labor and vehicle mileage costs and costs of planning the weekly pickup route were tabulated, and compared against the value returns from fines and the avoided cost of replacing lost items. Labor and mileage was determined at…

Since recorded usage of vertical files in a university library does not always indicate actual needs of patrons, a study was conducted on the use of a collection of 20,000 pamphlets over a three-year period (1972-75). Data were collected from circulation records and from a questionnaire circulated with each pamphlet. Three subject areas had the…

A national probability sample was made to survey the costs, the characteristics of materials loaned and borrowed, and the present and future magnitude of interlibrary loans for academic libraries. From a sample of 80 libraries it was found that the cost of a filled loan request varied between two and seven dollars and that lending cost per…

This book is designed to help novices get started in providing services to patrons of their library. By separating professional tasks from others, an indication is made when expertise is needed above and beyond the use of common sense and natural organizational skills. The book covers the realm of a librarian's responsibilities, offering advice on…

The St. Croix bookmobile has a greater circulation than both island libraries despite some serious breaks in service caused by equipment failures, lack of personnel, and bad weather. Radical shifts in the island population have added to the service problems by complicating the planning of routes. There has been no signficant change or improvement…

The feasibility of developing cooperative arrangements for sharing exotic foreign language serial titles among the health sciences libraries of California was investigated. Preliminary circulation counts indicated that 74 percent of the 77 titles counted had circulated twice a year or less and that the health sciences libraries do maintain…

Eight papers are included in this report of the Preconference Institute on Library Automation, June 1973. Papers addressing automation in user services, cataloging systems, acquisitions systems, and personnel are presented. Other papers focus on a review of the trends in library automation and computer technology, innovative strategies in systems…