The tables in this report summarize information about public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for state fiscal year 1995. This report includes information about service measures such as reference transactions, public service hours, interlibrary loans, circulation, library visits, children's program attendance, and…

The tables in this report summarize information about public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for state fiscal year 1996. This report includes information about service measures such as reference transactions, public service hours, interlibrary loans, circulation, library visits, children's program attendance, and…

Discusses collection development and acquisitions in virtual, or networked, libraries. Topics include electronic versus digital libraries; philosophical issues of library acquisition; user expectations, including wants and needs; strategic planning, including resource sharing agreements, retrospective conversion, and staff training; collection…

This academic library book buying survey examines full-text databases; electronic journals; top circulating subjects; price increases for serials and resulting subscription cuts; the influence of digital choices on purchasing decisions; circulation versus use statistics; and electronic books. (LRW)

Examines what Australian university libraries can and cannot do for independent scholars, scholars with no formal university affiliation. Argues that university libraries are not able to accept acquisition proposals from independent scholars because of shrinking acquisitions budgets and cites acquisition cooperation, especially of electronic…

Presents budgeting requirements that are needed to meet the electronic library needs in small- and medium-sized academic libraries based on library automation activities at Southern Methodist University (Texas) and a review of the literature. Highlights include cooperative ventures; fund raising; personnel needs; benefits of automation; strategic…

Describes the change from a traditional, paper-based collection to an electronic library at Bell Canada's Information Resource Center in Montreal. Highlights include universal desktop access for users; library Web site; decline in traditional services to increased use of online services; materials, including books, consultant reports, and…

Discussion of allocation of library acquisitions budgets, especially for monographs, focuses on the proportional use statistic (i.e., a value that compares circulation and holdings in a subject area). Topics addressed include economics; benefits that libraries provide; use of the collection by patrons; computers as aids to resource allocation;…

Discusses the idea of a national electronic library as a possible solution to current economic trends in the information industry. Topics addressed include commercial entertainment ventures; the decreasing buying power of library acquisition budgets; the need for free access; government's role; cooperation; serials publications; licensing…

Presents an administrative overview on planning needed to implement information technology-based reference and instructional services in academic libraries. Discusses staffing; troubleshooting; fund raising and budget development; consortia and digital resources; and the need for continuing education. (LRW)

The Australian university system can fund the creation of a scholarly collection of serials for use by the nation by increasing the average expenditure on libraries from 5.1% to 5.3% of total university expenditure. Once the national collection has been built, virtual access can be provided using a Web-based model called MEADS (Monash Electronic…

Views assessment of "Costs of Electronic Reference Resources" both in a general descriptive framework and within the context of a specific model for costing of library operations and services called LCM, the Library Costing Model. Examples of costing data uses are provided, and categories of costs are related to types of electronic…

Presents an analysis of the Internet Public Library (IPL) from an economic perspective, using the model of the cost-minimizing firm. Highlights include application of the model to the IPL, analysis of revenue and cost in the reference department, analysis of reference statistics, and unit cost of reference service. (AEF)

Presents results of a survey of school library media centers in 1995 and 1996 that was conducted to examine technology use. Highlights include growth in Internet access, increased CD-ROM use, local area networks, distance education, funding sources, staffing, expenditures for technology, library collections, and librarian/teacher and…

Discusses issues facing libraries using digital information resources, based on experiences at the Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg library. Topics include comparing electronic resources; goals of providing the service or resource; determining users' needs; resources for access, including networks and financing; software; budgeting;…