Explores the use of outdated reference materials in history instruction and the inadequacy of bibliographic training for history graduate students. Describes the explosive growth in the availability of reference works and their changes in form. Observes that historians still rely primarily on written reference works. Offers a taxonomy of U.S.…

Describes the methods and results of a user-centered field study that investigated the design requirements for a Web-based research library, a digital library representing a collection of large domain-specific documents that can be accessed remotely to support scholarly research. Results provide insight into Web-based inquiry and requirements for…

This study uses the list of periodicals indexed by "Alternative Press Index" to examine the holdings rates of alternative press titles in the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries. Results by subject clusters show low holdings rates. The impact on scholars, students, and library collections is discussed. (Author/LRW)

Discusses a scholar's reactions to libraries made by Umberto Eco in "De Biblioteca." Topics addressed include functions of libraries, including collecting; accessibility of materials; the scholar's creative use of libraries, and discovering materials not looked for or known about; North American research libraries; photocopying; and…

Describes a study of two research university libraries that examined digital library use of faculty researchers, librarians, and computer support providers in order to provide a theoretical model for understanding digital library use in different social worlds. Closed rational and open natural systems models in organizational theory are discussed.…

The articles in this special issue honor the journal's foundation editor, Dietrich Borchardt giving a retrospect, personal memoir, insight to the editor, his government publications, Australia's bibliographer, personal note, impressionist sketch, education for librarianship, overseas suppliers, bibliography, and a paper by Borchardt…

These six articles discuss collection level descriptions. Highlights include cross-domain issues; archive standards and automation issues; museum considerations, including metadata and Web pages, based on the Canadian Heritage Information Network; data standards for directories; electronic libraries in the United Kingdom; and the Research…

Recent innovations in information technology have met, and in many cases, exceeded all but the most utopian visions for increasing access to research materials. Although the costs of the technology are high and the risks of losing access to digital information in the future because of hardware and software obsolescence are now widely recognized,…

In 2001, Janice R. Franklin and Loretta O'Brien Parham attended a meeting of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) Board of Directors, an ordinary enough event. Observing the support that the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries provides its members, they realized there was no such mutual assistance program for the librarians at…

A five-month research study at Cornell University Library (CUL) confirmed the strategic importance of a library presence in faculty-created course Web sites. It sparked specific recommendations to support the seamless integration of the CUL digital library within the virtual learning environments created by faculty.

An increase in its distance-learning student population prompted Regent University Library to consolidate the library's information literacy program into one course. The course eventually went online to meet the needs of distance learners. During course development and implementation, librarians learned what worked well and what did not.…

This paper focuses primarily on the collaborative partnerships that have shaped the ARL Statistics and Measurement Program, which currently serves the objective of "describing and measuring the performance of research libraries and their contribution to teaching, research, scholarship, and community service." Over the last ten years, the ARL…

This article features MarcEdit, a free, Windows-based, metadata editing software suite that is developed and supported by the author as part of his contribution to the library profession. MarcEdit Suite is a tool that helps one with MARC coding and conversion and to perform database cleanups, to generate temporary electronic journal holdings, or…

The "ARL Annual Salary Survey 2005-06" reports salary data for all professional staff working in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries. It is the most comprehensive and thorough guide to current salaries in large U.S. and Canadian academic and research libraries, and is a valuable management and research tool. Data for 9,655…

Seminaries and graduate schools of theology in many non-Western contexts are launching new doctoral programs. Many of these schools are younger and smaller than their Western counterparts and function in contexts with less developed infrastructures. Are they ready to offer doctorates? This case study seeks to answer that question with regard to…