Because libraries are so closely linked to education, they will play a fundamental role in the transition to the Learning Society proposed in "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. The Department of Education's Strengthening Research Library Resources…

This essay suggests several criteria by which academic libraries' standards and processes might be judged: appraisal of interinstitutional cooperation, acceptance of new technologies, preservation of materials, role of library in total educational process, involvement of librarians in general unversity governance, and role of faculty users in…

Describes why and how the North American Collections Inventory Project (NCIP) involving three Indiana research libraries was implemented; how cooperative decisions and planning are proceeding as a result of the project; and benefits and drawbacks of the project. Comments on future are offered as NCIP begins Phase Three. (6 references) (EJS)

Examines basis for and prospects of cooperative arrangements between research libraries and publishers and/or information processors to acquire the rights to contents of documents that research libraries seek to preserve, store contents of documents in digital form, and reproduce this information on demand and in various formats. Twelve references…

Comments on impact of photocopying, networking, and resource sharing on acquisitions programs of research libraries and describes fiscal situation in academic institutions, specifically in Massachusetts Institute of Technology libraries. Electronic publishing, role of research library as subscriber and intermediary, and communication between…

Reports on initiatives being taken by the Association of Research Libraries, University of Pittsburgh, Research Libraries Group, and Center for Research Libraries in response to development of collection management in academic librarianship, and comments on issues emerging from these initiatives--use documentation, cooperation, and paperless…

Discusses the controversy over whether or not libraries should charge fees for online bibliographic services, reviews the evidence for imposing fees, for maintaining free services, and outlines the relevance of certain sections of the United States Code to decisions concerning the provision of information. Twenty-four references are included. (JL)

Examines current problems and future roles of libraries in facilitating the growth of knowledge, and discusses the regulative role of price mechanism, autonomy, and centralism, given the role of criticism and the problem-solving nature of research. Issues discussed are examined against national library and information services planning proposals.…

Responds to an article that argued that the Internet is causing college libraries to reduce their resources. Suggests the library's role as a service provider cannot be supplanted by the Internet. Offers advice for increasing campus library usage, including librarian and faculty partnerships. (NB)

Looks at a seminal article by Arthur McAnally and Robert Downs on the changing role of the university library director to determine whether the changes they outlined in 1973 are still valid. Additional sources of strife for university library directors are described, and requirements for today's library directors are discussed. (Contains five…

Advances in information technology are forcing librarians and administrators to reinvent scholarly information exchange. The old question of what constitutes a research collection remains, but is transferred to a new medium. This is an opportunity to take advantage of the new possibilities and to correct some previous mistakes in collection…

Outlines the development of the Houston Area Research Library Consortium's CD-ROM union catalog and presents hypotheses on the impact of the union catalog on resource sharing, especially with regard to the University of Houston libraries. Interlibrary loan borrowing is examined, procedures are described, and enhancements are suggested. (two…

Discusses collection development in research libraries and presents a model for organizing collection management that combines functional and team-based design principles. Traditional and new organization designs of university libraries are described, and collection development and management is defined in terms of reference and technical…

Describes the use of the Conspectus method of collection evaluation in the University of California Campus Libraries and Stanford University Libraries in the area of psychology. Possibilities for resource sharing are discussed, recommendations for the future are suggested, and a subject listing is included that indicates commitment to collection…

Traces the development of national computer networks and discusses the need for the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Topics discussed include ARAPNET, Internet, BITNET, NSFNET, the role of the government, legislative status, the Coalition for Networked Information, policy issues, technological requirements, and libraries and NREN.…