The functions of, and materials in, the Playboy library are described. (SM)

Describes series of videocassette projects introduced in 1982 by the King County Library System (Seattle, Washington) leading to current collection of over 5,600 tapes. Population in library system's service area, exploration of marketplace, purchasing, library role, product packaging, circulation and overdue policies, demand for tapes, and…

Reports on a study assessing the impact of the June 1973 and subsequent U.S. Supreme Court obscenity decisions on public and school libraries and trade bookstores. (Author/PF)

Discusses the Special Collections at the State University of New York at Buffalo and the role of Charles Abbott in their development. His interest and a serendipitous lack of funds have created an unusual collection containing a Twentieth Century Poetry Collection, James Joyce holographs, and rare book collections. (CHC)

Contains an introduction (Jean Thibodeaux Kreamer) to this section and five articles on video in libraries: "Managing an Integrated Video Collection" (Michael Hedges); "The Video Librarian's Hide and Seek: Videotapes and Collection Development" (Merle Slyhoff); "Video in the Schools" (Charles Triche); "A Conversation with Sally Mason" (James…

Discussion of media in public libraries focuses on independent films and alternative video. Topics addressed include commercial films; film adaptations of novels; instructional films; material selection; cataloging; video technology; and a project in Indiana that tried to encourage public librarians to collect alternative videos. (LRW)

Describes the Berg Collection of the New York Public Library, a special collection of 19th- and 20th-century English and American literature, written by the daughter of the collection's first curator. The development of the collection by the Berg brothers is described, and growth and expansion of the collection is discussed. (LRW)

The rationale for developing a phone book collection is discussed and the procedures for building the collection are outlined. (SM)

This essay reviews the library material selection process and explores the differences between selection and censorship. Removal of library materials, selection of materials for special interests, opinions of censorious groups, the balanced collection, and the librarian's responsibility are discussed. (EJS)

Discussion of preservation of and access to information and knowledge focuses on selection decisions that libraries make. Topics addressed include a decrease in funding; collection development; preservation processes, including reformatting into digital data; private collections; unpurchased current publications; new electronic technologies;…

Eight articles serve as an introduction to the growing presence of technology in libraries. Topics covered include going online with microcomputers, a selection guide to database management software, sensible groundrules for circulating software, selection of software for microcomputer centers, and setting standards for microcomputers in…

Issues related to prison libraries are discussed in six articles. Topics covered include the history of American penitentiary ideology; standards for prison libraries; the controversy as to whether prison libraries should serve prisoners or be used as penological tools; and the lack of knowledge about prison libraries within the general library…

The importance of an up-to-date information file is discussed, using the quest for the name of Paul Revere's horse as an example. A list of Famous Riders and Their Horses'' is included as an indication of the type material to be included in an information file. (SM)

Although oceanography is included in most elementary school curricula, there are few easily read oceanography books for the school library. An annotated list of 70 recommended titles is included. (PF)