This discussion of the librarian's perspective on collection development cites professional "blind spots" in areas of responses to and misinterpretation of information, censorship, identifying and satisfying reader demand, and confusion over the role of the librarian. A 15-item bibliography is provided. (EJS)

Many factors need to be considered when a librarian decides on vendors for his orders. By using information from existing trade journals and from questionnaires completed by publishers, a handbook was developed to assist librarians; it discusses some 450 publishers in terms of their: (1) address, (2) promptness of delivery, (3) price discounts…

This investigation based upon a survey of 26 American and West European booksellers attemts to provide some basic information about foreign blanket orders. The characteristics of foreign blanket orders as well as the attitudes of the booksellers are summarized. (Author)

The last institute of the 1971-1972 LARC Institute Series was devoted to automated library acquisitions systems. The focus is upon a system in operation at Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Arizona State universities. The papers which discuss this automated acquisitions system are: "Computer Systems Hardware,""The Systems Approach," and…

Reports on three companies that offer "on approval" books to school libraries; i.e., companies send books to be reviewed, simplify paperwork, and offer low prices and free shipping. Sales procedures, company addresses, and telephone numbers of Garrett Book Company, National Library Service, and Ollis Book Corporation are noted. (EJS)

Reports results of survey of purchasing patterns of school libraries in Ontario, Canada, for five periodicals--"OWL,""Chickadee,""Hibou,""Ranger Rick," and "World." Reasons for purchasing magazines, magazine use, personnel background, materials budget, and a discussion of those libraries not…

Data collected from library acquisition records on microfiche helped ascertain the effects of the Thor Power Tool Company Supreme Court decision in 1979 on a sampling of four randomly selected schools in the Atlanta Public School System between 1978 and 1985. Prior to this decision, some publishers kept a substantial inventory of backlist titles…

Two out-of-print book buying methods, searching desiderata files against out-of print book catalogs and advertising want lists in The Library Bookseller,'' are compared based on the data collected from a sample of 168 titles. (7 references) (Author)

The widely accepted approval-plan concept has moved from a lengthy period of discussion of selection responsibility to a few recent studies of the plans' cost, efficiency, and impact on research collections. An annotated list of articles from 1958 to 1972 traces this transformation and identifies the research studies. (34 references) (Author)

Procedures for solving the problem of overordering copies of books for which fewer copies would be sufficient are discussed. (SJ)

This second annual encyclopedia summary updates the American Library Association's (ALA) evaluation of 10 sets and analyzes the deletions and additions made to each encyclopedia within the context of each publisher's revision plans. The board looked specifically for significant changes in purpose, arrangement, content style, general quality, and…

An acquisitions guide listing sources of government documents to aid in selective purchase of materials. (JAB)

Evaluations of out-of-print book dealers supplying the California State University, Northridge, library show that most titles are received within nine months from the date of the list. This article suggests that academic libraries should establish purchasing standards and discloses methods of locating books that dealers consider most effective. (1…

A simple normative theory applicable to public library services was developed as a tool to aid libraries in answering the question: which books should be bought by the library? Although developed for normative purposes, the theory generates testable predictions. It is relevant to measuring benefits from services which are provided publicly because…

Develops guidelines for selecting and ordering microforms, including warnings regarding microform ripoffs. Literature and techniques for evaluating microforms are discussed. (Author/JAB)