Describes the design plans for San Francisco Public Library's new Main Library. Highlights include administrative issues, including the role of branch libraries; funding; technology, both for the building itself and for the collections; accessibility for the physically impaired; special collections; and future plans, including an integrated…

Discusses the user-oriented design, technology application, and innovative re-organization employed in the new facility of the Iowa City Public Library. Shelving of audiovisual materials, open access, cable television, the online catalog, and staffing considerations are noted. Nine references are cited. (EJS)

Iowa State University's cost study proves academic librarians can keep cataloging in-house and save staff costs. Several factors play a role in the productivity surge at ISU: increasing use of shared cataloging; growth of online authoring files; expanding role of support staff; increasing automation of catalogers' work; and structural flattening…

Summarizes and responds to librarians' objections to books-by-mail programs: limited selection, potential loss of library patrons, loss of identity of library providing service, and postal rates. Effectiveness of mail order catalogs, program costs, and comparisons of walk-in and books-by-mail circulation statistics are discussed. (6 references)…

Discusses concerns of librarians entering field of library automation emphasizing issues surrounding automated circulation control systems and online catalogs. Factors which have contributed to dramatic growth in these areas are enumerated: MARC II format, reduced computer costs, commercial vendors, scarce resources, and turnkey systems. (EJS)

Reports results of 1981-83 survey of 24 new and 22 remodeled 2-year college Learning Resource Centers, noting gross area, square foot cost, furniture/equipment costs, seats, and types of facilities. Major trends (square foot costs 1965-83, public catalog formats) and the flat roof disaster at Kauai Community College, Hawaii, are discussed. (EJS)

This summary of the annual meeting of the New England Library Association presents highlights of presentations on federal aid futures, public relations and internal communications, building and maintaining a videocassette collection, online catalogs, and approval plans, as well as remarks by book award winners, another author, and a publisher.…

Describes the strategies used by the Catalog Instruction Group at the university library which, in less than two months, managed to reverse negative staff attitudes and reach large numbers of library users with information about the combined card and microfiche catalog system. (RAA)

Discusses planning "future of the catalog" decisions given AACR2 and suggests that courses of action for small libraries may be developed through self-study and by reference to a list of 11 resources. (RAA)

Discussion of college students' dependency on the library card catalog as a problem in bibliographic instruction covers student attitudes toward card catalog; catalog shortcomings (portions of books are not indicated, subject headings don't always match user's terms, availability not indicated); a positive teaching approach; and online…

Recommends that librarians locally develop mini-union catalogs to provide for increased access to library materials and to facilitate interlibrary loan. Practical instruction is provided for the preparation of such catalogs. (RAA)

Reports on new products and services unveiled at the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in New Orleans, including a remote training service for librarians installing new automation systems which offers complete interactive user instructions via the Web; products for managing digital collections, including accessing online catalogs…

Poses four issues concerning library catalogs and cataloging and presents suggestions toward resolution of these problems. Cost considerations, cataloging system design, the catalog's role in shaping service users receive and those they are encouraged to seek, and contradictory requirements of the catalog are highlighted. (EJS)

Explores the use of public online access systems, noting three reasons for their emergence: the failure of computer output microform (COM) catalogs, online circulation systems, and commercial vendors. User needs and wants and librarian requirements are outlined in terms of cost considerations. Fourteen references are listed. (EJS)

This analysis of nine myths of library automation highlights cost effectiveness, circulation control and delinquency rates, budget allocation, staff needs, technical services productivity, the online catalog, need for consultants, the MARC format, and turnkey systems. Views of the reality regarding each myth are offered. (EJS)