Policymakers and library administrators are being drawn to the idea of the "virtual library" and the "library without walls," the webs of electronic resources that supposedly will displace books, physical libraries, and most library staff, and are believing the virtual library to be imminent, adequate, and cost-effective. This…

Discusses the possible use of computer technology to enable collection development librarians to become active participants in an information network as librarians move from the concept of ownership of resources to access to information, and describes the functions and benefits of the implementation of a microcomputer-based selector's workstation.…

This speech addresses the need for institutions of higher education to develop economic models to assist in the management of academic information systems (including both print and computerized systems) in light of restricted economic resources. Steps in development of a comprehensive model of information costs are outlined. (DB)

The conference that generated these papers focused on the range of issues presently facing university libraries. Because there is no general consensus on the nature or importance of the most substantive problems or the solutions to those problems, the conference was designed to encourage discussion of the issues. An analysis of a series of recent…

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…

Addresses the inadequacies of traditional methods of library financing and proposes a strategy to be implemented in an environment supported by automation and networks. Publisher pricing of data rather than publications, options for charging library users with debit cards, and the role of regional library networks are discussed. (EAM)

This membership meeting of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) focused on the impact of the new information technologies on scholarly exchange. The program was organized into two sessions comprising 11 papers in all. In the first session, three influential leaders presented papers exploring different aspects of the conference topic. In the…

Examines ways in which information technology developments have changed academic libraries over the last few decades, and speculates about further changes to come. Discusses computerizing library operations; public access; electronic formats, particularly for journal articles; and information networks, including expectations about services,…

This plan describes the status of multi-library cooperation and resource sharing in Idaho and outlines possible ways of developing an infrastructure which supports those activities. The end result will be regional multi-type library organizations with well-developed governance structures which support resource sharing activities locally,…