This paper analyzes 27 English language published articles and monographic works which present comparisons of the online systems of OCLC and Research Libraries Group (RLIN) and discuss their effect upon library programs. A description of the literature, conflicting perceptions, and system advantages and disadvantages are highlighted. (25…

Barriers that hinder development of cooperative arrangements among libraries in Costa Rica are identified by studying librarians' perceptions of obstacles. A ranked list of barriers shows that the most important obstacles are related to administration and governance, absence of guidelines, poor public relations, and a limited number of…

Examines methodologies underlying studies which measure the information economy and considers their applicability and limitations for analyzing policy issues concerning libraries and library networks. Two studies provide major focus for discussion: Porat's "The Information Economy: Definition and Measurement" and Machlup's…

Review of reports and surveys on existing and developing network organizations covers scope and literature sources; networks (structure and governance, management, national, state multi-type, and single-type network surveys and studies); bibliographic utilities (comparisons, characteristics and functions, linking utilities, automated catalog);…

Twenty-one libraries in Library Computer System participated in collection overlap study. Findings of random sample representing 1% of each collection indicate that high percentage of titles, 69.4%, occurred only once in network and that percentage of each library's collection unique to that library, ranged from 6.1% to 68.4%. (21 references) (EJS)

The first of a two-part series covers research published since 1970 that is directly relevant to interlibrary loan in the United States, with emphasis on studies of total volume, growth rate, nature of exchange relationships, characteristics of requests and types of material requested, users and uses, and financing. (47 references) (EJS)

This discussion of the measurement of performance criteria and desired or acceptable level of achievement focuses on the performance criteria used for the evaluation of interlibrary services (success rate, turnaround time, cost, and impact of service). Document delivery, communication, and interlibrary loan research are covered. Fifty references…