"Research Library Issues" ("RLI") focuses on current and emerging topics that are strategically important to research libraries. The articles explore issues, share information, pose critical questions, and provide examples. This issue includes the following articles: (1) Special at the Core: Aligning, Integrating, and…

This discussion of the interrelationship of library buildings, library functions, and library management is illustrated by a description of problems encountered when the University of Guelph McLaughlin Library moved into a new building. Illustrative material is provided. (EJS)

The circulation system of the University of Waterloo (Ontario) Library is analyzed. The analysis includes the environment in which the circulation system must function, general objectives and functional requirements of the system, and a description and evaluation of the existing system. Both the automated and manual elements of the circulation…

The steps involved in tailoring a periodical and monograph price index to a university library are examined, as are the difficulties involved in applying a simple methodology such as a price index when the data base has not been organized to play an active role in the decision-making process. The following topics are addressed: the shifting of…

A 1969 survey of 50 leading American and Canadian university libraries collected data in the following categories: resources, personnel, finances, space, public services, administration, and professional school libraries. This summary report provides extensive tabular data in five broad categories: (1) summary tables; (2) institutional rank; (3)…

Defining absenteeism as "unscheduled leave," this report describes an attempt to analyze the factors involved in absenteeism, which produced no significant improvement, and an absentee counseling program instituted at the University of Guelph Library in October 1980, which resulted in improved attendance within a few months. (EJS)

This study describes and analyzes the involvement of library and university groups and individuals in arriving at major library decisions concerning budgeting, automation, policy making, and operational issues in 12 selected university libraries. Site visits, interviews, and questionnaires were used to compare the decision making roles of…

This assessment of ten existing academic library instruction programs in the United States and Canada investigates administrative and staff support, instructional methods, and program impact as an aid to writing a guide to academic library instruction programs. A representative sample of ten library instruction programs was selected on the basis…