Beginning with a discussion of how collections diversity has been conceptualized and assessed within the literature, we then analyze four areas in which professional practices and modes of thinking create barriers to collecting materials from historically marginalized voices. Specifically, we discuss how metadata practices can obscure these…

It seems, at times, that a frantic race persists to ensure that a child, in the crucial learning stages of early elementary education, acquires the appropriate reading level before he or she "gets behind." Though there are obvious issues with branding a book "Grade Level One" or "Reading Level 2.2," it is nevertheless…

Through the decades, the kinds of materials found in libraries have grown and changed, adapting to the needs of library users as well as economic, social, and even environmental factors. Similarly, the presentation format for cataloging content has changed. Another change is about to emerge in cataloging, and its name is FRBR (Functional…

Discussion of multimedia libraries and the need for storage, indexing, and retrieval techniques focuses on the combination of computer vision and data mining techniques to model high-level concepts for image retrieval based on perceptual features of the human visual system. Uses fuzzy set theory to measure users' assessments and to capture users'…

A proposed cataloging and information access tool for children's media would combine the most useful aspects of library subject-heading lists and thesauri to meet American Library Association recommendations for subject cataloging of juvenile material. Computer-based production of a preliminary edition is planned for 1983. Fifteen references are…

The first article describes characteristics of ephemera, discusses its importance as resource material in library collections, and presents suggestions for providing access to such materials. The second describes the acquisition and treatment of 15 collections of Australian ephemera at the National Library, and the third describes the…

The process of establishing the vertical file for a new branch library is traced; suggestions for making the vertical file a better resource are offered; and guidelines covering the general objective, responsibility for selection and maintenance, principles of selection, and scope of the collection for vertical files are presented. A four-item…

Discussion of digital imaging technology focuses on its potential use for preservation of library materials. Topics addressed include converting microfilm to digital; the high cost of conversion from paper or microfilm; quality; indexing; database management issues; incompatibility among imaging systems; longevity; cooperative pilot projects; and…

Digital image quality, indexing structures, and production workflow were the three central issues examined during the second phase--the set-up phase--of Project Open Book, a major effort by Yale University Library to explore the usefulness of digital technologies for preserving and improving access to deteriorating documents. This report outlines…

Using decision points from Esther Piercy's "Commonsense Cataloging" as a framework for analysis, this paper compares the opinions of experts on cataloging, classification, and shelf arrangement of audiovisual materials in school libraries, public libraries, and media centers with actual practices in four school and community libraries in…

Discusses the conversion of fragile library materials to computer storage and retrieval to extend the life of the items and to improve accessibility through the World Wide Web. Highlights include entering the images, including scanning; optical character recognition; full text and manual indexing; and available document- and image-management…

The project presented here explored the possibility of using computer-based systems to increase information access to non-text children's materials at the pre-school through elementary (6th grade) school levels. This final report includes an indicative summary as well as ten separate papers that describe a range of applications of proven computer…