The validity of the direct shelf approach as a concept for organizing library materials, with special reference to its component, browsing" is investigated by this survey. Findings implied policy recommendations for library management and library school curricula. (33 references) (Author/NH)

Provides librarians and others with summary of types of methods available to determine extent to which books, journals, and other library materials are being used, highlighting circulation studies, survey of user opinions, document delivery tests, shelf availability studies, in-house use studies, and citation studies. Forty-four selected…

Extracts five conclusions from a survey of library material use studies: (1) recorded use in many libraries is low; (2) use within the library parallels circulation; (3) past use predicts future use; (4) recent materials are used more frequently; and (5) Americans use few foreign language materials. (FM)

Reviews publications, conversations, and meetings to develop a picture of steady progress in collection development and preservation during 1980. Included are government activities, publishing trends, acquisition goals, budgetary concerns, security of collections, and continuing education. A bibliography of 174 references is included. (RAA)

This study of 50 pairs of popular (written for layman) and technical (designed for those having specialized knowledge in particular discipline) monographs matched by subject, date of publication, and date of acquisition indicates that although technical works circulated more than popular, difference was not statistically significant. Seven…

Circulation statistics for 198 books randomly selected from nonjuvenile collection at Allerton Public Library were ascertained. Comparison of experimental group (all related catalog entries withdrawn from card catalog) and control group (all catalog entries left intact) showed no statistically significant influence of removal of cards on…

Review of the 1991 literature on serials discusses publishing and scholarly communication; subject bibliographies; acquisitions; pricing; evaluation and use studies; electronic serials; cataloging, classification, and shelf arrangement; indexing and content analysis; automated serials control; preservation; professional issues; union catalogs; and…