What began with a few libraries' early application of ethnographic methods to learn more about user behaviors and needs has grown to become a significant body of work done across many institutions using a broad range of methods. User-centered investigations are increasingly influential in discussions about the shape and future of the research…

This kit prepared by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) contains 15 primary source documents on determining indirect cost rates in research libraries. The kit comprises: (1) six library cost studies and surveys, "Allocation of Library Expenditures to Research and Instruction" (University of Pennsylvania), "Sampling of Current Monograph…

In response to Association of Research Libraries (ARL) members' increased interest in the enhancement of manpower resources by greater utilization of paraprofessionals, ARL conducted a survey investigating various aspects of paraprofessional employment in the academic library. For the purposes of the survey, paraprofessional positions were defined…

Because of the variety in the nature and interests of foundations, libraries often seek an understanding of several foundations' interests, funding history, future plans, and strategies in terms of their own needs before approaching a single foundation. A review of foundation giving within the past few years shows that construction and expansion…

This kit on the integration of nonprint media into Association of Research Libraries (ARL) institutions contains a concise summary of a 1977 phone survey with ARL members, eight descriptions of programs and services, and five acquisition and processing policies. To collect data on practices regarding the acquisition, processing, and use of…

Describes a study which investigated plans of Association of Research Libraries members in New England for total automated library systems, whether compatibility of microcomputers with existing or proposed equipment is a factor in microcomputer selection, plans for microcomputer use, and how appropriate microcomputer tasks are identified and…

Report on current state of research in academic and research librarianship in Federal Republic of Germany highlights projects concerning acquisition of books; work procedure investigations; personnel requirements; cost accounting; investigations of library use (user research, user education); public relations work; librarianship; and subject…

An Association of Research Libraries (ARL) telephone survey indicated that staff associations in many large academic and research libraries have developed into distinct action-oriented groups. This appears to be due to a combination of factors including increased staff interest in the library decision-making process, the emergence on changed forms…

The purposes of this paper are twofold: to present perceptions held within the research library community about changes taking place in the scholarly communication system and through the presentation of these views to stimulate dialog among the major participants in the system. The paper comprises five major sections. A section on the scholarly…

To investigate the experience of American and Canadian university libraries with remote access catalogs, self-administered questionnaires were sent to the 137 directors of all Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries and all libraries of Canadian degree-granting institutions. The study was designed to: (1) survey Canadian and U.S.…

This kit is compiled from documentation received as a result of a 1975 Association of Research Libraries (ARL) survey on the use of specialists in member libraries; updated materials gathered in 1978 are included. Survey data from 64 ARL members indicate wide utilization of various managerial and technical specialists. Of these, personnel…

The 37 funded programs described in this brochure involve bibliographic control, collection development, and preservation of library materials at research libraries, and are designed to make rare materials accessible through bibliographic control and networking. The description of each funded project includes the responsible agent conducting the…

This preliminary report describes a project designed to formulate a competency model for research library managers as suggested input for job descriptions, recruitment and interviewing techniques, training, and curriculum review in the graduate professional programs. The objectives of the project are to identify the requisite managerial…

This collection of grievance procedures from member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) contains: (1) documents on committee approaches to grievances from University of British Columbia, Center for Research Libraries, University of Connecticut, Harvard University, Michigan State University, and University of Nebraska; (2)…

This collection of primary source documents on support staff and student assistants in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions contains: (1) "Personnel Guides for Supervisors" (National Library of Medicine); (2) "A Personnel Development System" (Rutgers University Libraries); (3) "Training…