Discusses how the library vendor's role is expanding to encompass a more active coaching component in a digitized environment. Topics include centrality of the reader; professional expectations for librarians; and coaching in the areas of bibliography information, licensing, networking, product/service awareness, and industry/market advice. (LRW)

Explains the leadership roles that technology-related organizations play in creating an environment to nurture a successful transition of libraries into the new roles they will play as the result of new technology. Discusses the evolving role of technology providers; levels of leadership; and leadership for the future. (Author/LRW)

A review of the debate within the library profession concerning the changing role of libraries and fee based library services is followed by the presentation and discussion of an economic analysis of library services based on an indifference curve model. This model may be used to justify selected user fees. (CLB)

Explores organizational structures, curriculum guidelines, and standards for higher education and suggests strategies to position the ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) information literacy standards within institutional planning documents and to initiate campus-wide adoption of information literacy standards. Discusses the…

Presents a framework to discuss trends in higher education based on the economic concept of production function. Criticism of education and economic and demographic changes are discussed; responses from higher education institutions are examined; and implications for academic libraries are considered. (Contains five references.) (LRW)

Summarizes the responses of research library directors to the Library of Congress' Network Advisory Committee statement, which stresses an egalitarian network environment. The special role of research libraries and the effect on their participation in local area and multitype networks are discussed. (6 references) (CLB)

Reviews the history of the relationship between OCLC and the regional networks, and examines current stresses in this relationship. Strategies that might be used to preserve this partnership are suggested. (1 reference) (Author/CLB)

Examines changing relationships between subscription agents, librarians, and publishers as a result of electronic journals. Discusses customer expectations, pricing models, and the subscription agent's new role as aggregator, acting as an intermediary who offers the end user access to the library's electronic journals via the Internet. (LRW)

Discusses qualities of traditional librarians, examines past and future library roles, and addresses the need to change librarian leadership requirements in response to technological advancements in libraries. Presents leadership qualities necessary for future information service leaders and supports these qualities with findings from literature…

Examines the role of information professionals in selecting vendor services within the context of the theme "the future of information services." Reviews options information professionals have in terms of selecting vendor services; evaluates professional services, end-user services, and vendor support; and provides an historical…

Examines present trends as well as the past history of information technology as it affects libraries. Topics include library vision and the need for a redefinition of their role as information middlemen between vendors and consumers; effects of the World Wide Web; and electronic information. (LRW)

Discusses factors that contribute to Santa Monica Public Library's excellence, including supportive city government and citizenry, city council, library board, lean top management, and the basic management team. Specific management principles and techniques, public relations, and measures of service at Beverly Hills Public Library are also…

Discussion of library networking issues that may be relevant to Japanese and U.S. libraries as they increase their use of central databases and local systems includes the role of the traditional library, distributed systems, linked systems, and the emergence of commercial systems. (Author/CLB)

Reviews the ways in which technical processing personnel enable libraries to provide fast and accurate access to information, and discusses the impact of technological change on the role and duties of technical processing personnel, the nature of library service, and existing organizational structures. (CLB)

This theme issue presents 14 articles that address the strategic planning process in academic libraries. Integrating library and university planning is discussed, and descriptions of planning at various colleges and universities include discussions of communication, decision making, and the incentives that started the strategic planning process.…