"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…

Explains how transactional analysis could be used for understanding the problems of an academic library reference department. (PF)

The provision of library services through networks has already affected collection development, cataloging, interlibrary loan, reference work, and document delivery. Library managers are advised to review how networks might impact their operations in order to formulate appropriate solutions as soon as possible. Several specific management problems…

Statements of library missions, goals, and corresponding objectives are presented in this report resulting from a program review of the California State University at Long Beach libraries and a workshop in which library staff drafted the document. Library-wide goals are stated, followed by an administration section which covers collection…

Relates experiences of Center of Business Research (CBR) in C. W. Post Center, Long Island University, as practical demonstration of performing business service in an academic library setting. Changing role of librarians, background of CBR, CBR's commitment, CBR corporate membership, administration of fee-based services, and membership revenue are…

Based partly on an online policy manual developed at the University of Houston, this policy statement for the Online Database Retrieval Service (ODRS) at Murray State University, Kentucky, provides guidelines for the librarian administering the service and for librarians conducting online searches. Eleven sections cover: (1) a statement of purpose…

A program and policy statement was developed by librarians at the Carleton College Library to address various planning demands being made of the library, to meet the specific and idiosyncratic information needs of the academic community, and to help clarify long range goals of the library and policies by which these goals may be successfully…

Presents results of managerial rotation program (librarians take turns on two-year cycle serving as department head) in medium-sized academic library reference department. An assessment of both the advantages and disadvantages of such a plan examines impact of this innovative and collegial management technique on staff, library, and patrons. (7…

Describes the introduction of an online searching service at the Phillips Memorial Library, Providence College (Rhode Island). Highlights include the acquisition of a microcomputer, vendor choice, cost considerations, setting up the workstation and establishing procedures, search sessions, and benefits to all elements of college community. Twelve…

Discussion of the scheduling procedures of librarians' hours at the reference desk at the Rutherford Humanities and Social Sciences Library, University of Alberta, highlights services provided, the preference table system, and manual scheduling versus computer scheduling. (EJS)

This paper presents a description of the Old Dominion University's (Virginia) Reference Librarian Orientation Program designed to ease the transition of reference librarians new to the school and its reference department. The program introduces the reference librarian to the library, the reference department, and the university itself and consists…

Zero Based Staffing/Services (ZBS/S)--a management tool designed to portray the relationship between the people or staff of an agency and the services they perform--was used in this study to inventory library services and staffing at the Central State University Library and provide a long-range planning analysis for library and university…

Outline of the operation and services of the Data Library in the University of Florida Libraries includes a brief history, administration of the library system, development of collection of machine-readable data files, data users, technical services, reference services, funding, and staff recruitment, training, and development. Four references are…

Relates experiences of University of Rochester's main library during complete renovation of the central reference department including the addition of a full-service reference station. Topics covered include planning the reference station, solutions to seven design requirements, increase in staffing and reference questions after one year, and…

Since the publication of the third edition of this book in 1961, numerous changes have occurred in the policies, procedures, functions and technology of academic librarianship. The present volume incorporates the literature of the past 13 years, and the author concludes that while the changes implied through the literature are significant and…