Describes the development and history of "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," a reference source first published in 1870 that includes the etymology of phrases, allusions and words. Discusses reviews that reflected and shaped its status as a standard reference book, describes the current edition, and considers its enduring value.…

Every now and then the fates snip a thread and all unravels. You struggle, practice and try to figure out the Cataloging-In-Publication data on the verso of the title page.

Weeding of library collections is a professional responsibility that should not be abdicated if deterioration of the quality of collections is to be avoided as also the spread of dangerous and misleading information. Guidelines are presented on how to go about this all-important task.

Many people take for granted the tools of the librarian's trade: typography, books, even the idea of a library. But when Matthew Battles looks at these things, he sees responses that evolved to meet human needs and wants to know more. What purposes were these tools put to and what do they tell people about the culture that produced them? What does…

Based on an analysis on the features and problems in the libraries of some newly-upgraded local undergraduate institutions, this article finally comes to a series of management countermeasures.

This article identifies and provides some commentary on the key issues emerging from research into the digitisation of Indigenous materials in collections conducted in collaboration with three state libraries. It situates the research project within the broader context of related activity aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges of access,…

The author relates how his school has a very active English Language Learner (ELL) program. ELL students typically have varying levels of social and academic language, but almost always have some English proficiency. Recently, his school established a Newcomer Program that drastically changed the school system. They acquired students lacking any…

This collection development policy serves as a planning tool for William Paterson College library decision-makers by providing information necessary for the allocation of funds for library materials. As a communications tool it provides guidelines for establishing priorities for the selection of library materials and criteria for the withdrawal of…

In late 1981 and early 1982, a total of 775 public secondary school librarians, 507 elementary school librarians, and 324 public librarians in Minnesota were sent questionnaires asking about instances of censorship in their institutions from 1979 to 1981, and about their library selection and reevaluation policies. Response rates of 29 to 32% were…

This guide provides a listing and description of publishers and distributors of large print books (in 12 point type or larger) available in 15 countries. The listings are arranged alphabetically by country and an abstract for each country includes specific information. Designed to be used by librarians and reference persons in their respective…

Library collections are generally ill equipped to effectively support foreign area students. This bibliography, one of a series on "neglected" foreign areas, attempts to provide guidelines for libraries in meeting these resources needs. Selection of entries was made according to the following guidelines: 1) few works in languages other…

This bibliography, similar to others on Asia and Africa, contains over 2000 titles relevant to the study of East Asia. Book, journal, and a few government citations -- the majority of which have been published within the last twenty years -- emphasize the humanities and social studies. Intended as a book selection guide, entries are graded as to…

Discusses the future of academic libraries from the perspective of their resources and bibliographic control, focusing on collection philosophy, book selection, the collection itself, resource sharing, adequacy of library space, preservation, new cataloging rules, a national bibliographic data base, and subject access. A need for a national…

Discusses methods of selection for library materials being preserved, questions reliance on the collection-based approach to preserve brittle books for a nationally preserved collection, and argues for the development of a user-based strategy for the long-term preservation of circulating materials. (Author/LRW)

Presents questions for evaluating a media center's reference section, focused on types of resources; reference-material evaluation criteria and items that belong in or are misplaced in the reference section; relocating materials and ensuring use of newly classified materials; and how to collect data on usage of resources. (AEF)