This report summarizes the activities of the South Carolina State Library for 1999-2000. The current strategic plan contains five strategic goals: provide information resources and services to meet the needs of the people of South Carolina; provide statewide programs to support local library services; serve as the advocate for libraries in South…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit and Flyer reports results of a survey that examined how ARL (Association of Research Libraries) member libraries have organized the licensing of electronic products and how they approach the associated problems. Forty-four of the 122 ARL member libraries responded to the survey. Results are…

Discusses results of a Web-based survey conducted by the University of Maryland libraries among faculty and graduate students to determine their views on and use of electronic journals. Distinguishes between print and electronic format preferences for journals most central to research as well as less important titles, and includes copies of the…

Provides information for school libraries interested in acquiring graphic novels. Discusses theft prevention; processing and cataloging; maintaining the collection; what to choose, with two Web sites for more information on graphic novels for libraries; collection development decisions; and Japanese comics called Manga. Includes an annotated list…

Shared knowledge, while not a new concept, is receiving new emphasis in a global society. National and other research libraries can fruitfully collaborate to maximize the public value of their materials. The partnership of the British Library with the Harry Ransom Center (University of Texas at Austin) is one example of this. (Author)

Discusses the need for school librarians to use multiple selection tools in building suitable library collections and suggests cost effective methods for gaining access to selection tools. Selection aids discussed include bibliographies, book reviews, and catalogs of remainder houses. (CLB)

Discussion of knowledge-based systems focuses on expert systems used by libraries for technical services and collection management. Highlights include knowledge acquisition; system development issues, including staff time and costs; cataloging; acquisitions and serials control; material selection; preservation; and examples of existing systems.…

Describes strategies that academic libraries can use to stretch the collection budget in the face of increasing costs. Collection management measures are discussed, including cancellations, coordinated buying, and cooperative databases; budgetary strategies are described; and political factors are considered, including faculty support,…

Discusses libraries' participation in consortia, cooperatives, or networks to help cope with the financial pressures created by more available materials and less money. Reasons for participating are examined, factors to determine the value of belonging are suggested, cost factors are considered, and cooperative collection development is described.…

Availability in electronic format of scholarly and scientific literatures and other forms of information has altered challenges faced by library collection managers. Drawing on ideas of the multi-library consortia, which have grown up partly in response to the advent of electronic resources, librarians have devised new criteria and means of…

Librarians at Harvard University have written the most comprehensive guide to selecting research collections for digitization. This article applies the Harvard Model to a digitization project at Indiana University in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the model for use at another institution and to adapt the model to local needs. (Contains 7…

Analyzes the ways publishers' Web sites can be used by librarians to locate additional science and technology reference materials which fall within budget constraints while meeting the needs of the patrons. Reviews specific publishers' Web sites to compare features and show how they differ. (Author/LRW)

Offers suggestions for building school library collections in English and language arts. Discusses how the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) tests for proficiency in three purposes of reading and how it can be used to evaluate a library collection; and includes four annotated bibliographies of books suitable for elementary…

Discusses new ways of selecting information for digital libraries. Topics include increasing the quantity of information acquired versus item by item selection that is more costly than the value it adds; library-publisher relationships; netLibrary; electronic journals; and the SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition)…

This revised edition of competencies for librarians serving children in public libraries was developed by the American Library Association. Highlights include knowledge of client group; administrative and management skills; communication skills; materials and collection development; skills in developing library programs, advocacy, public…