This empirical research examined scale economies of academic research libraries that belong to the Association of Research Libraries and developed a total cost function for estimating economies of scale. Argues that libraries are information provision organizations that provide multiproducts and multiservices and compares this study with previous…

Discussion of the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) E-Metrics project focuses on understanding how academic libraries might specify, produce, and assess institutional outcomes. Offers a framework for approaching the outcomes assessment process and suggests that multiple approaches to assessment are needed for an assessment of libraries in…

Studies on the topic of obsolescence in literature are reviewed and it is concluded thatthe concept is not of practical use for librarians. An extensive list of studies in the field is appended. (PF)

Two studies concerned with optimizing the effectiveness of design of bibliographic materials given certain practical constraints are reported. (Author/PF)

Shows how simple probability theory can serve to remove the bias from a sample so that estimates of total yearly circulation and circulation distribution can be calculated from circulation desk data. (Author/PF)

Libraries must do some research before trying to establish a community information center. Librarians should consider feasibility, identify the target population, inventory community resources, define information needs, and provide for continuing study while the service is in operation. (LS)

Study of the development of libraries and librarianship may be done only historically, by analysis of the records of development. Such study necessarily is interpretive because historical study does not establish facts, but proceeds from them. In historical study an hypothesis may not be used as in scientific study, because the hypothesis is not…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) which was developed by the U. S. Navy as a management tool could be applied to a library process. Several chapters are devoted to an explanation of the tool and its advantages and limitations. Its potential value in library management is also…

A study was done at the Purdue University Libraries to identify publishers of interest to Purdue, to characterize the subject areas by type of publisher after library selection, and to evaluate the performance of commercial and university presses. The majority of the document consists of tabular compilations of the data collected in the study. The…

The computer-produced circulation statistics in the Bucknell University Library for the academic year 1973/74 are analyzed by Library of Congress classification and academic department to determine how much each department is using the subject-related book collection. (Author/PF)

An announcement of a study to be conducted by Leeds Polytechnic to describe and analyze ideas about information and the public library, and offer suggestions for future services. (Author/JAB)

This series of articles approaches the major issues in academic libraries including faculty status for librarians, mass instruction method for teaching library skills, performance appraisal for librarians, and the controversy as to a research requirement for all librarians. (JAB)

Sixty-one students provided the Library of Congress (LC) subject terms they would use to search an academic library catalog in 30 hypothetical searches. Students had difficulty developing strategies. The study concluded that LC subject cataloging needs rationalization. (KP)

Procedures for developing quantitative measures of reference service are described. Through individual interviews, researchers compiled a list of 93 activities performed by the staff. Each activity was evaluated by the staff in four categories: importance, interest, complexity, confidence. (JAB)