This issue of "Research Library Issues" ("RLI") highlights the value of professional failure. The idea to explore this theme emerged from conversations with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Innovation Lab Advisory Group earlier this year. It is the hope this issue highlights the value of failure--both its necessary…

Most universities are enrolling large numbers of students amidst dwindling budgets. This leads to reduced book- to student ratios. Makerere University started a Book Bank system to ensure availability of basic text books to students. The aim of this paper was to assess whether the Book Bank system was a viable strategy for enhancing access to…

This case study reports on the process for creating a self-paced non-credit information literacy (IL) course delivered via a university's course management system. The four online modules are designed to contextualize information literacy competencies within the curriculum taught in First Year Seminar (FYS) courses. The meta-course approach…

"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) ARL Library Budgets after the Great Recession, 2011-13…

This paper presents the findings of a study on funding of the library at the University of Benin in relation to the recurrent budget implementation during the 1992/93 to 1996/97 academic sessions. The findings indicated that the library depended on the central administrations's allocation for its funding. It also showed that the University of…

What is the future direction of reference books? What types of policies are libraries implementing regarding the purchase of electronic reference books? Are libraries still buying hard copy reference items when an electronic equivalent is available? This paper discusses a national survey of libraries regarding the purchase and use of electronic…

Tribal college and university (TCU) libraries try to be everything to everyone. In addition to the typical college students working on papers, they serve mothers with small children, faculty working on advanced degrees, and community members seeking photos or recordings of their ancestors. TCU's could not exist without their libraries; they would…

The 2012 edition of the "Digest of Education Statistics" is the 48th in a series of publications initiated in 1962. The "Digest" has been issued annually except for combined editions for the years 1977-78, 1983-84, and 1985-86. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field…

Summary of statistical data obtained on behalf of the Association of Research Libraries from fifty university libraries, for purposes of comparison, since there is currently no code of standards for university libraries. (JS)

Since the organization of the United States Bureau of Education in 1867 statistics of public libraries have appeared periodically in the annual reports. It has been the purpose to gather such statistics every five years, but it has not been possible to carry out the plan with perfect regularity. For forty years every annual report of the bureau…

In the light of current budgetary restrictions, it is important that librarians deliberate wisely when considering the acquisition of expensive microform collections; some of the issues that must be considered are identified and prioritized. (Author/CMV)

Twenty-four accredited library schools in the United States and Canada responded to a survey conducted in 1971 to collect comparable data on administrative structure, collections, budget, and personnel. Designed to show quantitative relationships among subject collections within the field of library science, this survey report presents data within…

This self-study provides an assessment of the mission, programs, and educational purposes of the University of North Alabama's Collier Library. An analysis of information related to the staffing, budget, resources, services, and institutional relationships of the library is provided, along with a detailed examination of Collier Library's ability…

A formula has been developed for the projection of book fund needs and public service and administrative staffing in academic and research libraries. (Author)

The Ontario Council of University Librarians (OCUL) was requested to undertake an assessment of the library facilities that would be required by each university to serve the enrollment projected for 1975-76. After submission of the report a research staff refined the data and analysis, and placed the figures for all universities on a comparable…