Bibliotek.dk is a development project, resulting in a World Wide Web site, that gives the Danish citizen access via the Internet to search and order material in the collections of Danish public and research libraries. The citizen decides himself or herself which library he or she wants to collect the material from. Bibliotek.dk is developed in…

This SPEC Kit and Flyer focus on the gifts and exchange function in Association of Research (ARL) libraries. The survey was sent to 119 ARL institutions via e-mail; 62 usable replies were received. Results, discussed in the SPEC Flyer, highlight trends and effects of changes in library automation, staffing decreases, administrative reorganization,…

Research conducted at Fisher Library, University of Sydney, which measured user failure to locate known items in catalog or on shelves, yielded overall failure rate of 35.9 percent (26.2 percent at catalog; 46.1 percent at shelf). User errors caused two-thirds of failures at catalog and more than half at shelf. Fifteen references are provided.…

From the library's viewpoint, collection growth and the need to frequently update index terms make automation almost inevitable. But this triumph of technology over print is hard on scholars, who find microforms and printouts difficult to read and who cannot browse a database like a shelf or card catalog. (SJL)

Offers a case study of the University of Alabama, Birmingham, library without depository status, which maintains a government documents collection through microfiche and subscriptions and compares it to depository libraries in terms of staff, shelving, binding, collection analysis, and quality of service. The future of electronic government…

Investigates the relationships between job turnover, job satisfaction, and faculty status of ARL (Association of Research Libraries) university library directors. Finds a positive relationship between job satisfaction and faculty status; and job satisfaction and staff release time to pursue scholarly endeavors; and a negative relationship between…

Reviews the development of the Association of College and Research Libraries, discussing the events that led to the formation of this section of the American Library Association; leadership, including the role of women and minorities; publications and their editors; standards and guidelines; and conferences and awards. Recent planning developments…

Discussion of academic research libraries' changes in organizational structure focuses on experiences at the Indiana University Libraries. Highlights include principles encouraging organizational change and empowerment; the role and nature of the library, including a focus on the user; library reorganization; and strategic planning, quality, and…

Describes a process for creating a collection development policy for managing an environmental studies collection in a multilibrary system. The policy rationale, the process of developing subject terms, and the creation of a format for the information are covered. Ideas for handling a physically and intellectually dispersed collection are…

Argues that, as library roles change, providing access to information resources is becoming more important than acquisition of library resources and that libraries should be evaluated based upon what they actually do. Access and performance measures are proposed to supplement the statistics collected by the Association of Research Libraries. (30…

Describes a study that evaluated the determinants of price increases of scientific journals over time from a variety of publishers, disciplines, and countries. It was found that inflation and greater journal length explained most price increases, and that journal prices from commercial publishers increased much more rapidly than those from…

Discusses the changing role and responsibilities of middle managers and department heads in large research libraries. Skills and abilities required for effective management and the need for continuing leadership training are outlined. (10 references) (EA)

Five articles address issues concerned with personnel management in libraries. Topics discussed include ethical issues; hiring practices, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action in members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL); technological changes in libraries that affect motivation and work attitudes; career planning in…

Discussion of research libraries focuses on resource sharing, information partnerships, collaborative collection building, and the relational library that relates to a user's needs and interests. Suggests the development of a global relational research library and discusses commercial Web-based relational services, electronic book sharing, and…

Measures ownership of and access to African American and Latino periodical literature, illustrating the successes and failures in promoting racial and ethnic diversity in research libraries belonging to the ARL (Association of Research Libraries). Discusses desirability of multicultural collections; bibliographic control and access issues; and…