Examines the economic behavior of academic research libraries, arguing that academic research libraries seek to maximize universities' utility by expanding library collections. Findings are consistent with those from a previous study using a different ranking system and sample data and reconfirm that library collections contribute significantly to…

Reviews the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) activities regarding special collections. Highlights include local and collaborative approaches; budget pressures; access to special collections; digitization programs; recruiting qualified staff; results of a survey of ARL special collections; and the need for ongoing statistics for special…

Covers extent and distribution of American library resources, types of libraries, cooperative acquisition programs, microforms, bibliographic control, subject specialization, surveys of holdings, nature of research holdings, research library standards, collection development methods, and the future of the book. (LS)

Contrasts the kinds of staff members found in metropolitan libraries during the past 20 years with the staff needed for the mid-1970's. (Author/PF)

Describes the American Antiquarian Society, including its history, the evolution of its collections, and the relationship between its staff and readers that make it a leading humanities research center. Discusses the institutional culture and the development of a new area of study, the history of the book in American culture. (Author/LRW)

History and current status of special libraries serving business, industry, and government. (LS)

This empirical research examined scale economies of academic research libraries and developed a total cost function for estimating economies of scale. Suggests that libraries in general, and academic research libraries in particular, are information provision organizations that provide multiproducts and multiservices. Findings indicate that slight…

The rationale for using Activity-Based Costing (ABC) in a library is to allocate indirect costs to products and services based on the factors that most influence them. This paper discusses the benefits of ABC to library managers and explains the steps involved in implementing ABC in the user services area of an Australian academic library.…

Librarians at Harvard University have written the most comprehensive guide to selecting research collections for digitization. This article applies the Harvard Model to a digitization project at Indiana University in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the model for use at another institution and to adapt the model to local needs. (Contains 7…

Cooperative efforts in art libraries are surveyed with special reference to the Art Research Libraries of Ohio (ARLO). (PF)

Includes a 1991 lecture on the future of rare book libraries and a commentary from 2003. Topics include paper-based collections versus electronic resources; changes in general research libraries; budget shortages; changing priorities; reformatting library materials; and education for rare books and special collections librarians. (LRW)

Discussion of special collections materials focuses on independent research libraries. Topics include how collection development differs; who they serve; access to the collections, including digital access; and future challenges, especially the need for increased financial support, changes in scholarly communication, and the need for increased…

Libraries must identify and foster the inherent personal characteristics and skills considered most relevant for leadership in the field of information management. Professional library associations play an important role in teaching and developing skills by providing experiential opportunities for their membership. Career models for academic or…

In the past, serial cancellations and storage decisions focused primarily on print resources. With the addition of electronic resources, librarians in large research institutions must now manage an integrated collection of both print and electronic formats. Explores the impact of electronic resources on decision decisions. Identifies criteria for…

Discusses the development of a new culture of research librarianship that is customer-focused, based on experiences at the University of Arizona library. Highlights include cooperative partnerships with users; LibQUAL+ as a tool to learn how users perceive library services in relation to their expectations; and staff participation in strategic…