This interview with the president of Research Libraries Group who assumed his duties in January 1983 covers past experiences, perceptions of libraries and librarians, management and technical problems experienced by Research Libraries Information Network, financial situation, prospects for growth, new members, online catalogs, technological…

Examines trends in costs of conventional library operation and costs of electronic devices which may pervade libraries of future. Library costs in 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, library automation, total library operating expenditures for university and college libraries, and rate of adoption of electronic techniques are covered. Sixty-three references…

This 28-item annotated bibliography for establishing a local history collection which was compiled for the Reference and Adult Services Division, History Section, Local History Committee of the American Library Association, lists recommended background readings, technical assistance aids, and selected case studies. (EJS)

Describes features of the acquisitions subsystem of the online computer system introduced by the Washington Library Network and offered to all participants who use the subsystem and all interested vendors, noting equipment and programs used, and online ordering procedures available. (EJS)

Survey responses from 448 public libraries to questionnaire examining bibliographic access to media and adoption of revised Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR2) reveal that majority of respondents (57 percent) use AACR2 for original cataloging of printed materials, 46 percent use it for nonprint materials; 85 percent of public catalogs are in…

This essay on collection development in academic libraries focuses on four issues: collection size, written collection development policies, involvement of teaching faculty in collection development, and the status of scholarly periodicals. Twenty references are listed. (EJS)

Discusses the problem of underutilization of microform holdings whose bibliographic information is not integrated in the library catalog in British libraries, and suggests that the emerging system of cooperative regional networks may form the base for the manipulation and sharing of full microform analytics in Britain. Seven references are listed.…

Economic pressures on the information industry and on libraries are significantly affecting the nature of services and the organization of work within libraries. These effects are illustrated by three phenomena: emphasis on productivity in libraries, marketing of online database searches through libraries, and the repackaging of library services…

This new column discusses the need for gaining administrative and academic support for library instruction programs to improve "library literacy," i.e., the learning of the basic skills for finding information, and summarizes the findings of a five-year experiment at the University of Colorado to improve/increase faculty and student…

Describes the combined school and public library in Olney, Texas. The result of a community planning program, the combined facility offers a small town's solution for providing adequate library services for education and general use with limited resources. (RAA)

Surveys two private and two public preschool facilities for usage of school resources and library services and materials. The study concludes that interest in bibliographic services is high; however, improvement of communication among schools and libraries is needed to promote greater use of library resources. (RAA)

Presents a simple cost model to analyze trade-offs involved in considering storage and weeding as alternatives to new construction for academic libraries. References are provided, and the Palmour cost model is presented as an appendix. (RAA)

Presents results of a survey of 83 libraries in the United States and Canada which provide services to Native Americans. The questionnaire used contained five major sections: general information, facilities, personnel, collection, and services. (FM)

Advocates pursuit of service to the public rather than autonomy of practice as the proper professional goal of librarians. This article explores the tensions between professional attributes and the bureaucratic demands of the organizational environment. (Author/RAA)

Presents a draft of a statement articulating the American Library Association's goals for the White House Conference on Library and Information Services in the areas of libraries' social value, library funding, literacy programs, outreach policies, national planning, and access to information. (FM)