From its earliest beginnings to the post war information explosion, this text traces the history of the world's largest library, the Library of Congress (LC). The library's creation in 1800 for use by members of Congress is comprehensively discussed along with its development into a world wide service. Library methodology is covered in chapters on…

The condition of the private library in the United States is precarious as great book collections are passed increasingly from the private sector to institutions. (4 references) (Author/RS)

This study was limited to juvenile library collections and was focused on the policies and practices which determined or affected the quality and balance of these collections. Statistical data reflected policies rather than measurements in meeting library standards. Recommendations for the collections included: a written policy should govern…

For some years, groups like the Council on Interracial Books for Children (CIBC) have been urging librarians to take a second look at children's books previously regarded as classics and to evaluate them in the light of the new consciousness which acknowledges the oppression of Third World peoples and women. On January 29, 1973, the Board of…

Librarians in the Ukraine have become an indispensable part of the entire scientific and cultural life of the republic and books are now an object of prime necessity in the people's life. (Author)

A selection of academic libraries was studied to examine ownership of best-sellers from 1940 to 1990. The trend is to keep a higher percentage of older best-sellers in fiction than newer ones. Nonfiction appears to be more sporadic but still follows this trend. Findings indicate new collection development policies may be needed to protect…

Examines the purpose for using historical costs in library financial records. Discusses the difference between spending money and losing resources. Describes how financial record systems operate and the ways in which accounting treats classes of expenditures. Uses the example of a bookmobile. (AEF)

Discussion of way in which books have functioned within framework of American librarianship highlights acquisition of books (libraries attempting to fill needs of everyone in geographical area, libraries devoted to filling needs of self-selected part of society, libraries devoted to collecting particular subject), and role of private collector of…

Refers to the library of the Spanish Royal Academy. (SK)

Reviews the major problems in the bibliographic control of microforms, particularly monographs in microform. The shortcomings of current practices in the cataloging of microforms are identified, and suggestions are made for the improvement of bibliographic access to these materials. Twelve reference sources are cited. (JL)

A solution to a perennial library inventory problem by the application of known and proven systematic techniques used in other non-library areas is proposed. The traditional and new approaches are briefly compared and explained while the actual planning and development are discussed with an eye toward producing as an ultimate goal the ideal…

Over a 3-year period (1985-1987) site visits were made to selected U.S. libraries that focus on climbing or mountaineering as a specific area for comprehensive collection building to survey their monographic holdings, serial holdings, and special collections. The monographic collections were compared to two lists of outstanding mountaineering…

Approval plan purchasing is related to library goals of comprehensiveness, pointing out the interrelated pressures of the university system which have contributed to making this method of purchasing possible and the defensive techniques used to justify it. (19 references) (Author)

This text focuses on decisions which affect library stock control or the acquisition and management of library materials. The book covers five areas: (1) a definition of the problem; (2) optimal size of library stock; (3) diagnosis of faulty control of book availability; (4) improvement of book availability; and (5) synthesis of theories and…