Attribute sampling can be used to audit academic library collections, clarify cataloging and access problems, evaluate allocation strategies, and make collection development decisions. Attribute sampling involves randomly sampling the physical collection and catalog records to conduct relationship tests between them. Guidelines are provided for…

To prevent further erosion of their monographs budget and to allow for a modest number of new serial subscriptions to support changing curricular and research needs, librarians at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) decided to cut serial subscriptions and to subsidize article delivery from a commercial document delivery vendor. Discusses the…

Identifies major problems that affect reader's services departments in Nigerian university libraries. Highlights include the functions of the reader's services department, including circulation, collection management, user education, and interlibrary loan; student population explosion; funding shortages; staffing shortages; and suggested…

Description of selected science and technical libraries and information services in Zambia focuses on collection development and acquisition policies. The problems of transferring technology through the transfer of information are discussed, the future of information transfer in Zambia is explored, and proposals for future action are presented.…

Discusses the need for school librarians to use multiple selection tools in building suitable library collections and suggests cost effective methods for gaining access to selection tools. Selection aids discussed include bibliographies, book reviews, and catalogs of remainder houses. (CLB)

Overview of the new guidelines for school library media programs developed cooperatively by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology reviews issues such as information studies curriculum, planning, media specialist roles, personnel, and information resources. (MES)

Describes the Health Information Project, a plan created by the Maryland State Department of Education that allows residents to obtain health information from public libraries. Examples of patron situations involving health questions illustrate the plan's main elements: collection development, staff training, networking with community agencies,…

Considers ethical issues faced by special libraries concerning access to information and the needs of clients, the organization, and society. Topics discussed include collection development policies; physical access; user fees; organizational loyalty versus intellectual freedom; social responsibility; and personal values. (Contains 10 references.)…

Presents a historical background of effects that the end of the Cold War had on Slavic and East European collections, and focuses on declines in the acquisition of new materials via blanket orders and exchanges. Examines results of a survey of Slavic librarians to determine acquisition sources. Tables display survey responses. (JMV)

Discusses the evolution of GIS (geographic information systems) services and the roles that reference and public services professionals may play in providing this technology to users: developing collections to incorporate GIS; providing access to spatial information and software tools; and facilitating intellectual access to GIS concepts and…

Presents guidelines for identifying, evaluating, and selecting Internet resources based on a conceptual model and organizational framework of a collection development policy formulated at Cornell University's library. Topics include collection development in an electronic library and a taxonomy of Internet resources. (Author/LRW)

Presents an overview of literacy awareness since the 1985 publication of Jonathan Kozol's "The Illiterate American." The need for a highly technological workforce is explored and suggestions are made for the role of libraries in literacy training. A list of sources for literacy materials is appended. (16 references) (EAM)

As prices for library materials rise and budgets shrink, cooperative collection development is becoming increasingly important. In light of the necessity for resource sharing, libraries are being forced to balance issues of access for local users vs. access to other libraries. OhioLINK is described as a model for cooperative collection…

Discussion of knowledge-based systems focuses on expert systems used by libraries for technical services and collection management. Highlights include knowledge acquisition; system development issues, including staff time and costs; cataloging; acquisitions and serials control; material selection; preservation; and examples of existing systems.…

Describes strategies that academic libraries can use to stretch the collection budget in the face of increasing costs. Collection management measures are discussed, including cancellations, coordinated buying, and cooperative databases; budgetary strategies are described; and political factors are considered, including faculty support,…