Four articles address human factors in libraries, including (1) working with staff and users during library automation; (2) the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism when assessing reference staff and collections; (3) a mentoring program for librarians undergoing tenure review; and (4) patron privacy and the accountability of the reference…

Discusses the concept of Afrocentrism and presents the arguments of several scholars for and against the role of Afrocentrism in education. Implications for librarians are considered, and guidelines for related collections and services are offered. Major African studies repositories and suggested titles for Afrocentric collections are listed. (MES)

Examines the impact of electronic technology on libraries and scholarship. Focuses on some of the challenges of using electronic resources in research libraries, which include cost of acquiring electronic formats and the effect such expenditures have on other library services and collection development practices. Explores how electronic resources…

Identifies elements that are important for academic libraries to use in evaluating electronic books, including content; acquisition and collection development; software and hardware standards and protocols; digital rights management; access; archiving; privacy; the market and pricing; and enhancements and ideal features. Describes netLibrary, a…

This digest discusses some of the major trends and issues found in a systematic content review of the professional literature of library and information science. Two "megatrends" are identified and discussed: (1) the concern for the impact of technology upon every facet of library work, in academic, school, public, and special libraries;…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the research library in scholarly communication. Two main issues are addressed: (1) the explosion of printed materials coupled with a rapid increase in the price of these materials that jeopardizes the library's ability to create and maintain collections for users; and (2) the emergence of…

Compiled by the Maricopa County Library Council, Inc., a countywide library planning body made up of representatives of the various sizes and types of libraries in Maricopa County, Arizona, this planning document describes the current level of development in the county's public libraries and presents recommended development goals for college,…

This paper reports a self-study undertaken at Cornell University's Albert R. Mann Library to explore appropriate public services for an agricultural research faculty. The study took place over a 22-month period and involved a literature review, development of a questionnaire, administration of the questionnaire, an experimental period of…

Describes the Research Libraries Group (RLG) conspectus for collection evaluation and how it is being used to foster cooperation among North American libraries. Discussion of the internal benefits includes library planning, collection policy formation, staffing allocation and training, funding allocation and requests, accreditation, faculty…

This paper presents an annotated bibliography of 69 articles published in the 1990s that examine the impact of technology on reference service in public, school, and academic libraries. The paper is organized in the following seven parts, each dealing with a different type of application of technology: (1) "General Change Caused by…

Expanded resource sharing will be a feature of twenty-first century libraries. Discusses and illustrates, with reference to OhioLINK, steps to expanding resource sharing: joining a consortium, integrating intellectual access (catalogs and circulation), providing for physical and electronic delivery of materials, and integrating the collection…

Discusses issues that must be addressed by universities in order to ensure access to information resources by students and faculty, and possible roles of academic libraries within the electronic environment. Topics covered include the changing face of knowledge, costs of information technology, copyrights, and universities as organizations. (14…

Six articles address issues of censorship and sexuality in libraries. Highlights include: surveys of censorship in North Carolina, acceptable use policies for the Internet, perceptions of librarians' sexuality, the proprietary nature of corporate library holdings, contemporary views and interpretation of First Amendment rights, and collection…

Describes services offered by the University of Western Australia's Scholars' Centre to academic staff and postgraduate students in the arts and social sciences. Highlights include study facilities; collection development; interlibrary loan and document delivery services; access to electronic resources, including CD-ROMs and the Internet; Internet…

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…