Presents findings of a survey of 54 library directors, who recently and successfully went through the job search process, concerning the composition of search committees, individuals and groups they met, length and format of their interviews, and background documents they received. Suggestions for improving the search/interview process are made.…

Presents book reviews of recently published scholarly and general works of interest to reference workers in university libraries. The listing includes a brief roundup of new editions of standard works, continuations, and supplements. (RAA)

Reviews previously proposed schemes of classical rationality in book selection, describes new approaches to rational choice behavior, and presents a model of book selection based on bounded rationality in a garbage can decision process. The role of tacit knowledge and symbolic content in the selection process are also discussed. (102 references)…

Discusses general findings reported in the literature of use and citation studies on the use of citation counts as found in "Journal Citation Reports" for identification of periodical titles for cancellation in a university library. Principal reasons for retention of little-cited journals are noted. Twenty-one references are cited. (EJS)

Results of a 1969 survey by Carol Nemeyer of scholarly reprint activity in United States are reviewed in light of subsequent trends. Although replication of survey is not recommended, certain aspects that merit continued study are discussed with emphasis on the role of academic librarians in scholarly reprint selection. (36 references) (EJS)

Reiterates the need for a "literature size" approach to book fund allocations and presents a case for using reviews from "Choice" magazine as a useful means for determining literature size. References are listed. (Author/RAA)

Reviews 20 selected reference works published in 1991 and 1992 with purchasing recommendations for academic libraries. Titles are grouped under the following headings: National Bibliographies, Abbreviations, Librarianship, Religion, Mythology, Literature, Music, Art and Architecture, Popular Culture, Women's Studies, Area Studies, and Health…

Explores the theme of self-censorship in libraries in relation to new technologies. Highlights include the results of investing in high-cost electronic resources at the expense of traditional, lower-status formats; the effect of information technologies on literacy and historical records; and market censorship, including centralization and…

Investigates collection of faculty papers by university archives, examining criteria for determining which faculty member's papers to solicit and discussing problems associated with appraisal and acquisition of such papers. Data gathered from questionnaire sent to archives in United States and Canada are discussed and conclusions drawn. Nine…

Discusses specific selection criteria used in making collection development decisions and presents both a model for arriving at a selection decision, and a mechanism for assigning a priority to each selection. (CLB)

To examine relationship between strength of book reviews in "Choice" and subsequent circulation of titles reviewed, authors drew sample of reviews from "Choice," ranked reviews according to reviewer's opinion of book, determined frequency of circulation in Purdue General Library, and correlated frequency with strength of…

Argues that the internal organization of collection development and the nature of science and scholarship lead to inevitable gaps in collection development. The structural and intellectual causes of collection development gaps are analyzed, and a number of areas whose literatures are especially vulnerable to being ignored or overlooked by…

Describes a study that examined the appropriateness of database selection by patrons using CD-ROM. The findings discussed include the effect of search experience on appropriate database selection, whether the database used affected search strategies, and patrons' opinions about the need for training and the success of the searches. (three…

Approval plans challenge library boundaries, require consensus on collection development priorities, cooperation among library departments, and a close partnership with the vendor. Few concrete performance standards exist, and effectiveness is difficult to measure. Vendors will play an active role in the evolution of approval plans, though…

Describes attempts to develop quantitative formulas for determining book fund allocations, and discusses the difficulties of this approach in a university environment characterized by scarce resources and conflicting departmental goals. A set of procedural rules intended to promote fair and equitable allocations is presented. (36 references) (CLB)