Considers the challenge of leading a research library that is between directors. Discusses issues involved in the transitional period of "acting" directorship. Outlines recommendations for acting directors: seek advice; negotiate well in the beginning; consider the staff; state an objective; build consensus; and consider cautiously the candidacy…

In 1983, the Association of Research Libraries adopted as its third principal objective for a 5-year plan: "to increase the number of member libraries engaged in programs to preserve their collections." ARL efforts to achieve this objective are aimed at helping libraries meet this responsibility locally and these guidelines propose an…

A review of cooperative collection development activities among Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions indicates that many are involved with local, statewide, or regional consortia that develop and operate one or more fairly traditional cooperative programs. This kit contains 11 documents illustrating cooperative activities:…

This kit provides 24 essays on book repair: (1) "Conservation at the American Philosophical Society: An Institutional Profile in 1992" (H. Kyle); (2) "The Book Repair Program at Brigham Young University: An Institutional Profile" (R. Silverman); (3) "Book Repair and Conservation: Conservation Center for Art and Historic…

This document focuses on the evaluation, bibliographic searching, replacement, preservation photocopying, and microfilming of library materials that are too brittle to handle without risking damage. To assess these activities, a SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) survey was sent to members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL),…

This policy statement is designed to provide guidelines that will ensure the maintenance and improvement of the collection and services of the Leon E. Bloch Law Library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the period 1985 to 2000. The policy sets appropriate quality goals while simultaneously providing for flexibility in alternative…

Urges the research library community, in which ownership is traded for access and competition for cooperation, to take concerted action to survive declining resources and the impact of electronic information technology. Concrete steps that can be taken toward contributing to a new world of scholarly communication are suggested. (Contains 12…

This report of the task force charged with defining and researching the issues related to access and ownership of materials at the University of Arizona library presents 23 short-and long-term recommendations in the following areas: (1) organization, including the establishment of separate staff units for access services and collection management…