For over 30 years, Duane Webster worked tirelessly and effectively in developing leaders in the research library community. Through his own efforts and example and through a group of colleagues he trained and mentored, the Association of Research Libraries was able to create a series of programs in leadership development that has had an impact on…

This critique of prevalent conceptual methodologies in research in library administration examines the current research methodologies, relates them to the positivistic orientation of some social scientists, indicates why they are inappropriate, and suggests how research in library administration can be made more meaningful and relevant.…

A report of the current state of librarianship in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) presents a brief history as well as an overview of the prerequisites of and organizations concerned with library research, and the objectives, methods, and results of intermediary but important research projects. Although the practice of library research is new…

Describes operations research as an important management tool that can aid library managers in effectively using available resources and as a set of analytical tools that can enable researchers to better understand library and information services. Early history, definition, models, applications to libraries, and impact are noted. Twenty-five…

Research on public libraries is conducted in library and information science schools, commercial firms, state library agencies, research institutes, and some public libraries and library systems. While a number of library science professionals demand research, there appears to be a lack of the communication of research results so that they may be…

Papers on theory and research in library history presented at the 1982 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference include: (1) "The Future of the Library's Past: Library Administrative Records Preservation, Policy and Practice," a discussion by Paul Sturges (United Kingdom) of the need for library records…

This column presents views of professionals in the library and information studies (LIS) field and assess the state of LIS research. Questions are posed to researchers and practitioners in various LIS fields, asking them to address where they think the research front is. Six respondents focus their discussions on library and information center…

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…

Library Technical Assistants (LTA's) were the subject of a study designed to focus on four areas: (1) the present status of formal LTA training programs, (2) the present and potential job market, (3) the duties which LTA's perform, and (4) the attitude of the professional librarian toward the LTA. Data were collected from two sources--catalogs of…

In an attempt to compare the job activities of recent graduates from librarianship and internship programs supported by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) with a comparable group of graduates from non-NLM-supported programs in librarianship, detailed questionnaires were administered to graduates from both groups. They were asked to describe…

During the last decade, research has become increasingly important to the profession of librarianship. Seven library schools now have doctoral programs, foundation grants have stimulated and supported scores of major projects, and the research method has been recognized as an accepted technique for solving library problems. The increasing volume…

Some of the professional impressions gained from a month in the United States by a British librarian are summarized in this report. Six library school libraries and the Library of the American Library Association were visited. The greater emphasis on bibliographic and reference material allows students in the United States more frequent access to…

Describes underlying rationale of program designed to offer recent library school graduates special training opportunities that focus on current issues, trends, and developments in academic librarianship. Recruitment, educational component of program, roles of supervisors and project director, and comments from three residents (expectations,…

Presents results of survey assessing the opinions of 76 Association of Research Libraries library directors concerning 19 educational competencies for research librarians. Results are analyzed regarding importance of competencies, their need in different positions, their possession by beginning librarians, and the adequacy of instruction in…

Results of questionnaire survey of research library directors concerning M.L.S. joint degree programs indicate that respondents favored joint programs with 15 percent reduced coursework; areas of interest for nonlibrary science degree are hard sciences, other professions, foreign languages; graduates have edge in placement, slightly higher…