The St. Louis Public Library conducted a survey of 3 public, 12 academic, and 16 special libraries in the St. Louis area to identify existing subject depths in various collections as well as subject areas in which libraries intend to build in the next five years. The survey data are presented in 13 tables, and the results are summarized. Plans for…

The aim of this study is to determine: (1) the purposes and services of special collections departments; (2) the kinds of segregation desirable and (3) to what extent there should be divisions of material on the basis of form-document, pamphlets, maps, microreproductions and manuscripts. This study presents the findings of a survey on how some…

The major objective of this research study was to gather information about factors which influence collection development and selection decision making in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. The user's judgement of the extent to which the collections met his needs is the only parameter of assessment. Museum curators, the bulk of whose time is…

Reports on third annual mini-survey on religious books in 30 public libraries across nation covering seven areas: regularity of purchase of religious materials; percentage of book budget used; percentage of circulation; collection policies; gifts; patron demand; attempt to "balance" book collection on certain issues; pressure from…

Undertaken to provide data on the current status of collection development in selected academic libraries, this study also analyzed the structure of the collection development function at Chicago Academic Library Council (CALC) institutions and outlined a formal collection development policy for Chicago State University's Douglas Library.…

These statistics were compiled from information supplied by Arizona's public libraries. The document is divided according to the following county groups: Apache, Cochise; Coconino, Gila; Graham, Greenlee, La Paz; Maricopa; Mohave, Navajo; Pima, Pinal; Santa Cruz, Yavapai; and Yuma. Statistics are presented on the following: general information;…

In order to gain information about what experiences limited-budget libraries have had with approval plans, a questionnaire was drafted to survey these libraries. The results of the questionnaire are presented in this paper. Twenty-four of the thirty-one libraries surveyed, responded. Responses to each of the questions asked are presented. In…

The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the Philadelphia SRRT has surveyed the handling of controversial materials in twelve libraries. Public, university, and college libraries, are discussed in terms of which controversial titles they have and what is allowed to circulate. (Author/DH)

In July, 1974, questionnaires were mailed to 90 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries, to determine their collection development methods: the degree of structure and formalization of the process, the role of collection development offices or committees, participation in certain decisions, the form and use of policies,…

Three articles present: results of survey of use of videocassettes and audiocassettes in academic and public libraries; (2) results of a survey of library collections of audiocassettes of books and their acceptance by patrons; and (3) a description of the operation of a videocircuit by a regional library system. (EJS)

Library use is declining in the United States because print media is no longer the preferred media of a large majority of the population. Of the wide variety of media used for information, instruction, and entertainment, only a small variety is available through the public library. Selection of appropriate media formats for library acquisition…

This SPEC kit is based on a June 1987 survey of approval plan use by 94 members of the Association of Research Libraries. It reports on the current practices of these libraries, the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using approval plans, and the effect of increased library materials costs and library automation on such plans. It is noted…

A four-part questionnaire was constructed and administered to the users of the Kansas State College Library to aid the library staff in planning for effective library service and in developing a book acquisition policy for the next ten years. The four surveys conducted were: (1) departmental, in which academic departments were asked to indicate…

The purpose of this study was to examine the science and technology books in 18 elementary school libraries in 18 Maryland school districts and: determine the age of the books; identify what percent of the books matched a professional selection source; determine the number of books per student; and estimate costs in upgrading the collections. (AEF)