This paper discusses the need and provides guidelines for the preparation of policy statements on reference collection development for academic libraries. Policy elements recommended for inclusion are statements on collection objectives, collection scope, physical size, types of material, selector roles, removal procedures, and interdepartmental…

Proposes the integration of microforms with government publications as a logical administrative home for these two collections because of similarities in format, type of reference service and bibliographic access, and subject content. Staffing, level of service, equipment, and location and arrangement of the area for optimal public service are…

Virginia Commonwealth University reduced its ready reference collection by integrating the majority into the general reference collection. The project was a success and advantages for staff included more time and focus on users; expanded knowledge of collection; and reduced stress. (JMV)

Intended to provide a guide to the most useful, practical, and relevant methodologies developed and implemented over the past 20 years for assessing a library's effectiveness, this bibliography provides citations to 72 selected studies evaluating the use, collections, and services of academic libraries. The citations are organized into three major…

This discussion of America's outstanding rare book libraries notes the inception of collections, library facilities, technical difficulties, reference services, publicity efforts, and research. The John Carter Brown Library at Brown University, Clark Library of the University of California, and the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.…

Reports on results of an exploratory study of perceptions of collections by librarians in an academic library that provides both traditional and networked information services. Five librarians from a Midwestern university library were interviewed. Findings indicated an uncertainty about the virtual world in two particular areas: collection and…

Addresses public and scholarly interest in the fields of family history and genealogy. Highlights include attitudes before and after publication of Alex Haley's "Roots," library literature on genealogy, history of the family as a field of study, and academic library collection development and services. Twenty-five references are provided. (EJS)

Based on information from the 1996-97 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Academic Libraries survey, this document presents statistics on libraries in U.S. higher education institutions. Specifically, data are provided on: circulation and interlibrary loan transactions; public service hours; number served, number of reference…

Considers trends in measurement and evaluation of reference service and summarizes research findings on the importance of reference work, library clientele, reference questions, duties of the reference librarians, and the effectiveness of reference service. Measures for the organization and performance of reference work, the adequacy of reference…

The purpose of this manual is to acquaint desk assistants (whose two major functions are to provide information and to instruct patrons how to use library materials) with the services, policies, and procedures of the Reference Department and Jackson Library at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Information is presented about: their…

Presented by a library science student at the University of California at Berkeley, this description of Moffitt Undergraduate Library includes financing and budget, the building (physical description), book collection, staff, library technical operations, and user services. The report begins with a framework for the idea of an undergraduate…

Contains papers presented at the Cooperative Reference Service Committee program during the 1981 ALA Annual Conference, including discussions of the Library of Congress Reference Correspondence Referral program, the University of Illinois Slavic Reference Service, the functions of the British Library Lending Division, and national-level…

Discusses the effective use of stack space through weeding, storage, microfilm, and selection; study space based on student population; and service space by reorganization of staff, collections, and study space. Three references are noted. (CHC)

Reference materials used by librarians responding to reference requests and by patrons at the Iowa State University Library were analyzed to determine which subject areas of the collection received greatest use, and whether subject areas and types of materials used by librarians differed from those used by patrons. (19 references) (MES)

Examines the impact of the transition of the Federal Depository Library Program from print collections to a mix of print and electronic materials. Considers library collections and services; discusses reference service within the context of Zipf's Law; and presents a case study of the University of Florida documents reference services. (Author/LRW)