Eleven articles address issues relating to agricultural libraries and information, including background on agricultural libraries and information, trend management, document delivery, reference services, user needs and library services, collection development, technologies for international information management, information sources,…

Reviews factors that should affect the decision to automate a school media center and offers suggestions for the automation process. Topics discussed include getting the library collection ready for automation, deciding what automated functions are needed, evaluating software vendors, selecting software, and budgeting. (CLB)

Describes the role of and services offered by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies Library in Saudi Arabia. Topics covered include the objectives of the institute and the library facilities, collections, acquisitions programs, cataloging procedures, administrative policies, and future plans. (seven references) (CLB)

Discusses the possible use of computer technology to enable collection development librarians to become active participants in an information network as librarians move from the concept of ownership of resources to access to information, and describes the functions and benefits of the implementation of a microcomputer-based selector's workstation.…

Describes the method used by Firelands College (Ohio) to evaluate its book, periodical, and government document collections. The study investigated whether 30 percent of the references cited in students' texts could be found in the campus library and whether 70 percent could be found there or in the main campus library. (DMM)

Outlines steps for school library media centers planning for regional cooperative collection development (CCD) based on the use of a conspectus. CCD and resource sharing are contrasted; and use of the conspectus for analyzing the current collection, studying growth and use trends, and deciding future collection needs is explained. Conspectus…

Describes a collection development project to assess the African American materials in the Georgia State University library from an interdisciplinary point of view that grew into a continuing strategy of collaboration. Highlights include bibliography checking; individual and group initiatives; local library cooperation; and budgetary support.…

Describes a project to develop a recommended core reference collection for a new campus location of a tribally controlled community college in Minnesota. Describes selection methods and provides a list of general selection considerations and criteria for selected works. Citations for five selected titles are appended. (18 citations) (MAB)

Presents a 1992 study which discovered and investigated collection development bias in academic and public libraries in California. The investigation was carried out in five stages: (1) selected a controversial topic; (2) identified representative works; (3) ranked works by qualified judges; (4) measured holdings via library online computer…

Describes methods for stretching a popular adult library materials budget. Highlights include prepurchase evaluation and selection; acquisitions; fund raising to support selection funds; distribution; weeding; promotion; and lobbying. (Author/AEF)

Discussion of scientific literature growth focuses on implications for library collection development. Information epidemics, or dramatic points of growth, are examined in "Physics Abstracts"; a case study from the superconductivity literature is presented; and the distribution between the growth of journal articles, conference papers,…

Collection development policies as traditionally conceived are of little practical utility. Research librarians will better serve themselves and their users by devising flexible guides to information associated with particular fields of study. Resource maps using electronic technology could accommodate different kinds of inquiries. (Author/AEF)

Discusses steps taken by the Idaho Library Association to defeat an antigay ballot initiative by means of a coordinated, statewide public relations campaign. The ballot, known as Proposition One, would have violated First Amendment rights and caused library materials to be censored to determine whether they addressed homosexuality. (Author/JKP)

Discusses women's studies as a discipline and describes methods of collection development of women's studies materials for academic libraries. An example is given of a women's studies collection at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including development models, budget, personnel, role of the librarian, types of materials, and appropriate…

A survey of curriculum centers in Illinois academic institutions found that a wide range of library services were offered to education faculty, staff, and students and that librarians were committed to the education community and the larger university. (EA)