A portion of this meeting was devoted to three concurrent discussion groups. Each focused on one aspect of what generally can be termed a national program for research libraries. The first group discussed the more important elements of the report of the Committee on Specifications for a Study of a Periodicals Resources Center. The question of such…

This special library houses one of the world's largest collections of Spanish drama and theatrical materials, particularly of the Golden Age, the teatromenor, and Catalan Theatre. The collection, facilities, and staffing are described. (Author/JPF)

Profiles National Archives established by Congress in 1934 to collect and organize federal documents of permanent historic value. Types of materials included in archives, the Washington building and regional centers, the "Declaration of Independence," arrangement and preservation of materials, declassification of documents, and archives…

Three major difficulties in establishing effective cooperative conservation programs are: (1) the problem of allocation of responsibilities for preserving individual items; (2) the lack of people adequately trained in physical preservation; and (3) the need for a national initiative in preservation. (PF)

Discusses the changes in the major motion picture research collections during the past 15 years and describes the contents of the five largest remaining ones: Twentieth Century-Fox Research Library, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Research Library, Burbank Public Library--Warner Research Collection, Universal City Studios Research Library, Walt Disney…

Reports a survey of three top U.S. academic library holdings of the U.S. telecommunications periodical press. Shows a dramatic decrease in the proportion of telecommunications titles during a time when these publications were increasing in number and price. Suggests that the research library-centered information system is being bypassed. (SR)

Includes a 1991 lecture on the future of rare book libraries and a commentary from 2003. Topics include paper-based collections versus electronic resources; changes in general research libraries; budget shortages; changing priorities; reformatting library materials; and education for rare books and special collections librarians. (LRW)

Keeping back issues of serials on microfiche solves cost and storage problems. (PF)

The Childrens Literature Research Collections (CLRC), an aggregate of several collections of books, manuscripts, and illustrations at the University of Minnesota Libraries, are described in terms of their origin and their uses for teaching, research, and outreach in an academic setting. The collections discussed include the Kerlan Collection, the…

The function of a Federal research library reflects the purpose of the laboratory it serves and the philosophy of the librarian. Libraries at the Fish and Wildlife Service research centers must rely on small specialized collections, supplemented by a large amount of cooperation among agency libraries and other subject-related collections. Due to…

An evaluation of the Applied Physics Laboratory Library was conducted with the view of changing the current collection policy and establishing guidelines for selection. The evaluation included defining the purpose, using a microfiche ordering system, screening items received, guidelines for weeding, microfiche vs paper copy, costs, and…

Today, the Schomburg Center is the largest, most comprehensive and most heavily used resource center devoted exclusively to documenting history, literature, art, and culture of people of African descent in the world. (Author/MC)

Economic difficulties for the university library made it necessary to assess the library needs of faculty and students in teaching and research. Proposed are several functions for the library committee: a new linkage to the University, planning and management, and cost-benefit research. (Author)

Technical progress in transmission and microreproduction have created a need for drastic revisions in the traditional research library's goal of autonomy in serving the needs of its clientele. Trends toward viewing library collections as segments of a national resource are summarized. (JS)

A brief review of the essential background and report on the progress, evaluation and future outlook of this unique program. (Author/NH)