This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit reports results of a survey that examined how many Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries offer fee-based services to their external users, the procedures and organizational structures of such services, and the factors that contribute to a successful fee-based service program. For…

Fundraising is a growing responsibility for many academic library directors. Since the mid-1980s, large research libraries have employed development officers to help write grants, oversee special projects and expand the individual and corporate donor-base of the library. Smaller academic libraries cannot hire fundraisers. Directors and staff…

This survey was conducted to delineate the growing relationship between marketing and public relations and library funding by identifying: (1) the extent to which North American research libraries have developed organized programs in the areas of marketing and public relations; (2) who holds positions in these areas; and (3) the impact these…

In the face of decreasing enrollment and increasing information technology, future expansion of off-campus education programs is possible. A survey of 106 members of the North Central Association (NCA) of Colleges and Schools examined the library services considered essential to quality distance education and questioned the issue of accreditation…

An analysis of user requests for interlibrary loan materials revealed that about 5% of the total requests placed at the University of Oklahoma required lending fees. Costs and users' willingness to pay those costs are reviewed. Libraries seeking cost recovery would provide more efficient and democratic service if flat charges on all requests were…

At Southeast Missouri State University, library handbooks have been developed in an effort to meet patron needs in an environment of reduced library staff. The first handbook, "Welcome to Kent Library," was developed to meet the needs of the revamped general education program, and was given free to first-year students in a required…

This study examines 104 articles on the fee versus free controversy in libraries, written primarily between the years of 1992 and 1997. The content analysis assesses the types of libraries that charges fees--academic, public, school, or special; who is charged--everyone, businesses and their personnel, law firms and lawyers; and what services the…

This paper discusses the management of library collections of electronic information resources within the classical theoretical framework of collection development and management. The first section provides an overview of electronic information resources, including bibliographic databases, electronic journals, journal aggregation services, and…

This book, written by graduate students at the Catholic University (District of Columbia) School of Library and Information Science, examines current priorities, policies, and practices of public libraries. Following an introduction, "Reinventing Libraries: Responding to the Forces of Change" (Lisa Crisman), chapters include: (1) "A…