As higher education confronts shortages in hungry times, will officials who previously viewed the library as a sacred cow think it's time for a barbecue? Don't light the charcoal yet. Interviews with chief academic officers and an online survey taken by over 130 leaders in academic affairs yield surprising results. It's no secret that academic…

Librarians, like patrons and researchers, are caught between traditional library service models and the promise of evolving information technologies. In recent years, professional conferences have strategically featured programs and presentations geared toward building a mobile agenda and adapting or adopting services to meet new demands of mobile…

Late last year, Ohio State University (OSU) library director Joseph Branin graciously invited this author to visit for an up-close look at the William Oxley Thompson library renovation and construction project underway on his campus. He eagerly accepted. Since 2001, when he first began reporting on the project, he has been amazed by the plan, its…

How librarians came to their careers is as varied as the people themselves, but despite some often highly publicized challenges for college and university librarians in the digital age, academic librarianship is good work, according to the "Library Journal's" Job Satisfaction Survey. This article presents the results of this survey. The…

An overdue policy applicable in most academic libraries is described, including collection security and control, policy formation and approval, power of enforcement, publicity, documentation, notices, and fee schedule. (KP)

Academic libraries now hire an increasing number of individuals to fill professional librarian positions who do not have the master's degree in library science. Academic libraries are also creating a wide range of new professional assignments that demand diverse educational backgrounds. Additionally, responsibilities formerly carried out by…

Discusses benefits and drawbacks of a team approach to building a library Web site, based on experiences of redesigning the Web site at Wake Forest University's library. Considers the community context at Wake Forest, including laptop computers being issued to students, faculty, and staff; and support needed from library administrators. (LRW)

In this article, the author discusses his immediate concerns about working at Butler Library at Columbia University. He discusses the structure of the library system and voices his concerns about the structure. The structure is best described as a stratified pyramid. The librarians hired into the "upper base" are either specialists without an MLS…

Many movers and shakers inspire admiration and even awe, but those who inspire love are the mentors who have changed lives. That is why many grateful librarians nominated Linda Golian-Lui and George Oberle. Both of them were accidental librarians, work-study students whose supervisors encouraged them to become paraprofessionals, and then…

Examines trends contributing to a high attrition rate among academic library directors: (1) growth of enrollment; (2) changes in the university presidency; (3) proliferation in university management; (4) changes in the world of learning and research; (5) inflation; and (6) technology. Other pressures and possible solutions are also discussed. (10…

Unless library managers assume a leadership role in the information society and truly manage libraries, others will assume the responsibility. Thus far, they have not provided such leadership and have failed to effectively use innovative managerial techniques to administer the library. (RAA)

Describes the inequities and inefficiencies created by user fees in public libraries and publicly supported academic libraries and agencies. Alternatives to user fees are suggested. (KP)

Explains scope of the Library Services and Construction Act, Title IV-B, and Higher Education Act, Title II, programs with emphasis on library funding. The future of library programs under these acts is also addressed. (SW)

Describes the new library at the University of Arizona that is part of the Integrated Learning Center, a comprehensive learning environment focusing on undergraduate students. Topics include access to computers; support staff; and a management model to meet the needs of a new library organizational structure that puts the user at the top. (LRW)

In 2001, Janice R. Franklin and Loretta O'Brien Parham attended a meeting of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) Board of Directors, an ordinary enough event. Observing the support that the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries provides its members, they realized there was no such mutual assistance program for the librarians at…