Description of the process of developing a five-year strategic planning document for the Indiana State University Libraries covers data gathering from a variety of printed sources, staff reports, and interviews with faculty; conceptualizing document content; writing; and editing. A questionnaire for teaching faculty is appended. (10 references)…

Describes the Intelligent Reference Information System (IRIS) at the University of Houston libraries which includes a local area network of CD-ROM databases and an expert system to recommend reference sources. Effects of IRIS on public services management, bibliographic instruction, and collection development are discussed; and network licensing,…

Explains the organizational and professional concept of a "compleat librarian" that has been developed at the Rider College (New Jersey) Library. Highlights include a nonhierarchical organizational structure; a combination of traditional public and technical services responsibilities; a lack of supervisory duties; collegiality and…

Discusses the diverse client base served by the Wayne State University Law Library (Michigan) which includes secondary school students, undergraduates, paralegals, law students, attorneys, faculty, the general public, court reporters, legal secretaries, and librarians. An information service center and research guides developed to serve patron…

Discusses the lack of qualified, experienced serials librarians; suggests recruiting support staff from within technical services departments; and describes an internship program developed at Hofstra University (New York) to help train a library school student in serials work. The manager's perspective, the student's perspective, and an evaluation…

Describes the development of a model for competency at Rutgers University-Camden's library that can be used in the hiring process as a tool to evaluate job candidates for technical services positions. Interview experiences using the model, both with current employees and with prospective candidates, are discussed. (five references) (LRW)

Discusses some of the issues and problems involved in using electronic full-text journals in the University of Texas at Austin libraries. Issues addressed include different standards; subjects represented and the time period covered; hardware considerations; software; printing; skills and training needed for library staff and for users; and costs.…

Describes research and development of the Mercury Electronic Library Project, which was developed at Carnegie Mellon University Libraries to design an advanced retrieval system. Topics discussed include system architecture; security; performance, including automated and manual assessments; enhanced retrieval, including available databases;…

Describes a computer-based training program for library staff developed at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, that used HyperCard stacks on Macintosh computers. Highlights include staff involvement; evaluation of modules; trainee participation and feedback; staff recognition; administrative support; implementation plan; supervisory…

Discussion of thinking styles in library tasks focuses on a study at Brigham Young University that explored the relationship between thinking styles and library organization. Use of the Squires Thinking Styles Test is described, results that indicate professional librarians tend to be verbally oriented are discussed, and future prospects are…