With journal price increases continuing to outpace inflation and library collection funds remaining stagnant or shrinking, libraries are seeking innovative ways to control spending while continuing to provide patrons with high-quality content. The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library reports on the evaluation, implementation, and use of…

Studies about diversity initiatives in academic libraries have primarily focused on large research libraries. But what kinds of diversity work occur at smaller libraries? This study examines the status of diversity initiatives, especially those aimed at students, at national liberal arts college libraries. Results from a survey of library…

This article puts forward an "assessment/action research/publication" cycle that integrates aspects of the assessment, research, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes to provide academic librarians with a systematic approach for balancing competing workplace demands and give library managers a roadmap for creating a…

In January 1972, the Kentucky-Ohio-Michigan Regional Medical Library Network initiated an extramural program with a coordinator at each of its participating libraries to function as liaison between the network and basic units. Data collection devices were developed in order to evaluate the program in terms of its ability to foster responsible…

Outsourcing has been proposed as a method for improving effectiveness and productivity in Australian public library service. Developments, drawbacks, and potentials are discussed, and differences between contracting out whole services as opposed to selected activities are examined. (AEF)

An evaluation of cooperative collection management among academic libraries participating in the Illinois Collection Analysis Matrix (ICAM) was conducted in March 1987 by the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries (IACRL) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Data were gathered from two questionnaires, one of which was…

This study examines the effectiveness of a course committee in the administration of a library use instruction program by analyzing the Committee on Library Instruction at Milne Library. The study describes the development and operation of the course committee, analyzes its position in the college's and library's organizational structures, and…

A branch library community analysis study identifies library users and nonusers, determines the area of service, and serves as a pilot project for a larger systemwide study. Significant findings suggest that users may be identified by their degree of participation in socio-cultural activities and adult education programs rather than demographic…

An experimental writing program lasting three years and four months was held in the Chicago Public Library System, for which writers-in-residence, scholars-in- residence, and other program associates presented several series focusing on the city of Chicago. Emphasis during the first year centered on the literary/historical aspect of writing in and…

This assessment of ten existing academic library instruction programs in the United States and Canada investigates administrative and staff support, instructional methods, and program impact as an aid to writing a guide to academic library instruction programs. A representative sample of ten library instruction programs was selected on the basis…

The introduction to this Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit explains the Conspectus method, which was developed in 1980 by the Research Libraries Group (RLG) as a means of systematically and qualitatively evaluating large library collections. The discussion considers advantages and disadvantages of this tool, which evaluates past…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) kit provides a sample of excerpts from technical and planning documents contributed by 40 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries that are planning to install or have already implemented optical disc technology. Selected to represent a variety of media and applications, the…

This self-study of the Ezra Lehman Library at Shippensburg State College presents the analyses and recommendations of two library task forces--one on organization, communication, goals and objectives, and one on user relations. The responsibility of the first group was to develop implementable recommendations for necessary or desirable changes in…