Discussion of mergers in China between individual colleges and universities and much larger universities that have been a part of China's higher education reform focuses on the influence on academic libraries. Topics include collections; acquisitions; staffing; services; funding; resource sharing; library administration; online cataloging systems;…

This Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) kit reports results of a survey of 82 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions conducted in early 1992 in order to gather information on interlibrary loan by examining a number of operation and management changes that are occurring and the steps that might be taken to ease the pressure…

An evaluation of cooperative collection management among academic libraries participating in the Illinois Collection Analysis Matrix (ICAM) was conducted in March 1987 by the Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries (IACRL) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Data were gathered from two questionnaires, one of which was…

Three papers are compiled here for research library directors: (1) "Background: Open Systems Interconnection," in which David F. Bishop provides fundamental background information to explain the concept of the emerging technology of linked systems and open systems interconnection--i.e., an agreed upon standard set of conventions or rules…

Describes results of a survey of heads of interlibrary loan at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic libraries that was conducted in 1988. Highlights include location; personnel organization; staffing patterns, including librarians, nonprofessionals, and student assistants; and services offered, including document delivery and the use…

This paper examines the importance of contracts in formalizing agreements between libraries to provide services to off-campus students and describes the development of one such contract. Topics addressed include: (1) the value of contracts in clarifying responsibilities and elevating contracted services in the hierarchy of institutional…

Describes the problems IBM Corporation in Boca Raton, Florida, has had staffing and managing a corporate library and its cooperative agreement with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to provide professional librarian services. Issues to consider in developing an academic/special libraries agreement are discussed. (EA)

Discusses the concept of a virtual library. Current systems are described, as well as pilot projects; administrative concerns are addressed, including cooperative collection development and networking; work of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is discussed; and the National Research and Education Network (NREN) is described. (17…

Topics related to research library interlibrary loan staffing and organizational structures were explored through a survey conducted by the Systems and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) of the Association of Research Libraries. Data gathered from 82 libraries show a very small increase in the number of full-time equivalents in loan units between…

Presents an interview with two librarians who are participating in joint-use projects, one between a public library and a school library, and one between a public library and an academic library. Personnel, commingling collections, changing library roles, and governance boards are considered. (LRW)

Twenty-one sites that have integrated informal departmental collections with library systems were surveyed. Respondents offered recommendations on assessing feasibility, identifying collections, establishing work roles, and choosing centralized versus decentralized approaches for sharing information about departmental collections. Political and…

Discusses the need to develop new models for collection development in academic libraries, based on experiences at the University of Arizona. Highlights include changes in the organizational chart; focusing on users' information goals and needs; integrative services; shared resources; interlibrary loans; digital technology; and funding. (LRW)

Papers from the joint meeting are assembled in this document. Each of the meeting's five program sessions featured presentations by a Standing Conference of National and Universal Libraries (SCONUL) director and an Association of Research Libraries (ARL) director. The presentations highlight perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic and are…

Describes the history of consortia and cooperative efforts among libraries and their role in distance learning in higher education. Discusses shared online catalogs; purchases of electronic resources; supporting distance learners' information needs, including virtual reference; staff training; change management; cooperative planning; vendor…

Reviews literature pertaining to the planning and management of the use of CD-ROM products in academic, special, and public libraries. Topics discussed include needs assessment, hardware and software selection, choice of vendor, staff and user training, cataloging, networking, resource sharing, workstation location, user charges, and costs. (21…