Thirty years ago, the only person in a library looking for an electrical outlet was a blue-smocked cleaning person who had to plug in a vacuum cleaner with a very long cord. Now, hordes of patrons outfitted with amp-devouring laptops and cell phones expect and need the library to offer an endless supply of electricity. The overall demand for…

As waves of grim economic news wash over state and federal governments here and abroad, libraries of all types and sizes are bracing for budget cuts the likes of which have not been seen in three generations. Unlike most financial crises, this one is ubiquitous, with all but a handful of states in the red and getting redder. Globally, the meltdown…

Evidence for open access as an emergent, global state of mind is everywhere. The "New York Times" went "open" last September, and the "Wall Street Journal" is slated to follow. Increasingly, scholarly communities are breaking with tradition and calling for the open sharing of research, software, and data. Amongst these global initiatives is the…

Online database searching experiences of nine Illinois public libraries--Arlington Heights, Deerfield, Elk Grove Village, Evanston, Glenview, Northbrook, Schaumburg Township, Waukegan, Wilmette--are discussed, noting search costs, user charges, popular databases, library acquisition, interaction with users, and staff training. Three sources are…

Discusses academic and public libraries that expand the range and type of their services via fee-based information services and private information businesses that charge fees. Questions of billing the total cost to the patron versus part of the cost are considered; and the impact of such fees on library cooperation and networks is described. (six…

Although weeding can save libraries money, shelving time, and increase circulation, it can create serious political problems for college librarians. Proposes a method of compiling lists of candidate titles for weeding based on a comparison of recommended titles lists contained in three editions (1967, 1975, 1988) of Books for College Libraries.…

Keeping back issues of serials on microfiche solves cost and storage problems. (PF)

Describes how a public library consortium jettisoned the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and used library staff, with some assistance from consultants, to evaluate new automation systems based on software demonstrations and Requests for Quotations (RFQ). The RFQ and RFP processes are compared. A sidebar article describes the financing plan.…

Describes the local, in-house designed, automated, on-line circulation system which has been in operation at the public library in Farmers Branch, Texas, since October 1, 1975. The relatively inexpensive system is linked to the IBM System 3 Model 10 in the city data processing department. (JVP)

Presents the annual budget report for public libraries for 1999, including budget projections; local taxes; rise of technology budgets; materials, salary, and operating budgets; per capita funding; fundraising; net costs; and the role of the Gates Library Foundation. (LRW)

Discusses the use of document delivery by academic and research libraries and lists 28 private document delivery services frequently cited in a survey of libraries who use the services. Topics addressed include traditional interlibrary loan services; the effects of rising journal costs, restricted budgets, and staff cuts; and copyright issues.…

Reports on a survey of the book collection at the Wellsley Free Library (MA) to ascertain the age and physical condition of the collection and causes of damage. Cost implications and proposed solutions are discussed, and the significance of the findings for public libraries is considered. (five references) (MES)

Discusses 108 new building and 148 addition and/or renovation projects in public and academic libraries completed in 1994. Highlights include statistics on building costs and book and seating capacity; summaries of construction costs for the past six years; and an alphabetical list of architects and their addresses. (KRN)

Results of a study at the University of Pittsburgh library to determine the extent to which library materials are used and the full cost of such use are presented. Use and nonuse of books, cost of book use, and journal use and nonuse are described. (Author/KP)

Discusses the change of library music collections from long-playing (LP) recordings to compact discs (CD). Highlights include the drawbacks of LPs, disc prices and players, sound quality, logistics, selection of recordings, and a renewed commitment to sound recording facilities and collections. Ten sources are given. (EJS)