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)

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)

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)

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…

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.…

Discussion of the World Wide Web and the role of academic librarians as online system developers and designers focuses on usability testing. Usability evaluation at OCLC and at the University of Arizona is described, and the integration of the results into their Web and online product designs is discussed. (Author/LRW)

Users Council has proven itself to be a critically important element in the Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) organizational structure. In fulfilling its combined roles, Users Council has provided a national forum for articulating member library interests to OCLC as well as a training ground for preparing individuals with library expertise…

Discusses the rising costs of library materials from a vendor's perspective. Effects of corporate takeovers of publishers are examined, resource sharing among libraries is discussed, the role of the library as a supplier of information resources and services is considered, and libraries' need for product development and marketing strategies is…

Based on the authors' experiences as catalog, reference, and network resources librarians, this paper examines traditional methods of operation and the emerging blending of duties and the effects on individuals and the profession. Examines changing demands on library users as a cause for the blurring lines. Concludes that catalogers and reference…

Discussion of academic research libraries' changes in organizational structure focuses on experiences at the Indiana University Libraries. Highlights include principles encouraging organizational change and empowerment; the role and nature of the library, including a focus on the user; library reorganization; and strategic planning, quality, and…

Six papers from a seminar on special collections in research libraries address special collections and the scholarly community; the function of special collections in research and education; services and development issues; the evolving character of special collections; special collections in emerging information delivery programs; and the…