Argues that recent dramatic increases in the numbers and prices of scholarly journals are evidence of a distorted economic marketplace for scholarly information. The discussion covers the strategies needed to reshape the current system of scholarly communication and the need for leadership within the research library community. (34 references)…

Discusses the traditional role and functions of research library technical services departments and examines the impact of electronic information and information technology on technical services. It is argued that technical services units will stagnate if they do not accept the responsibility of becoming technologically adept. (19 references) (CLB)

This study of the online catalog at a large academic library focuses on the nature of problems for which users seek librarians' assistance. Characteristics of users, types of searches, kinds of problems, the effect of prior experience with the system, and user suggestions for improving the system are examined. (10 references) (Author/MES)

Discusses the need for research libraries to develop a greater sense of financial accountability, both from a moral standpoint and to provide better services. Topics covered include areas where cost benefit tradeoffs have been neglected, possible consequences of not becoming accountable, and the debate over user fees. (12 references) (CLB)

This first of a two-part series on resources in major university music libraries contains "Rare Resources in the Yale Music Library" (Harold E. Samuel) and "The Music Library, University of California, Berkeley" (John H. Roberts). Topics discussed include special collections, rare books and manuscripts, music archives, and…

The Research Libraries Group is expanding its mission to include alliances with the archival community, the museum community, independent research libraries, and learned societies. Areas of emphasis include collections and information delivery, protecting materials, and assisting in development of computer systems. (DB)

Data on research library holdings include volumes in the library, volumes added in 1990-91, current serials, total staff, and total expenditures for 107 university libraries and 12 nonuniversity libraries. University libraries are ranked. A pie chart of average operating expenditures, indicating percentages for salaries, books, serials, and other…

Discusses the national program for preservation microfilming in research libraries and suggests that microfilm is not the appropriate medium to be used. Recommendations for the electronic storage of materials on computerized databases are made; disadvantages of microfilm are described; interlibrary loan problems are discussed; and effects on…

Tabular data are presented on 107 university and 12 non-university research libraries' holdings and operating expenditures, providing information by library rank on volumes in library; volumes added; current serials; total staff; and total expenditures. A graph depicts percentages for operating expenditures. (DB)

Outlines an approach to budgeting in the research library. The following priorities are addressed: an adequate student labor force; adequate support staff; professional staff; education, training, and professional involvement; physical facilities and equipment; and the access--rather than collection development--budget. (EA)

This survey of 84 librarians from 42 ARL (Association of Research Libraries) libraries that confer faculty status examined whether library faculty are given release time to engage in research, whether libraries have written policies regarding research time, and whether there are differences in working conditions between technical and public…

The Huntington Library (California) decision to make generally accessible, for the first time, copies of photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls, previously tightly controlled by a small group of editors, is hailed as breaking a scholarly monopoly over an important intellectual resource, reaffirming the mission of the research library and the…

Includes four articles that discuss the impact of the emerging digital information infrastructure on intellectual property; the implementation of a digital library for a European consortium of national research institutions; an international information gateway collaboration; and developing standards for the description and sharing of educational…

Southeast Asian Studies programs arose in American higher education after World War II, creating special problems for university and research libraries. The major problems were and still are acquisition and cataloging. The Donn V. Hart Southeast Asian Collection, founded in 1963, is unique in Illinois and contains 21,000 Indonesian; 15,000 Thai;…

Using a standard survey instrument, the Barrier Scales, the present study surveyed university librarians' perceptions of barriers to greater use of library and information research utilization in Seoul, Korea. The greatest barrier was that the implications of research for practice were unclear, followed by a lack of replication of the research,…