Discusses participants' roles in the policy formulation, planning, design, and construction of the new library at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (Nigeria). The importance of input from librarians is emphasized; the library's objectives and their influence on the new library are explained; and planning for the move to the new building is…

Describes the Danville Public Library's (Illinois) planning and implementation of a groundbreaking ceremony and provides guidelines for the process. Highlights include early planning, the planning staff, publicity, videotaping, selecting a convenient time, decorations, invitations, knowing individual responsibilities, commemorative items, and a…

Three articles provide tips for remodeling or building a school media center. Topics addressed include computer workstations; furnishings; packing, moving, and reshelving books; handicapped accessibility; advisory committees; documentation; design elements to increase the comfort of librarians and students; and miscellaneous considerations such as…

Discussion about planning for school libraries focuses on the first phase, called preplanning or programming, which involves determining the motivation for building or renovating; needs assessments; considering the role of the library; giving users questionnaires to solicit their opinions; workflow patterns; and cost estimates that include…

Describes the planning, design, and service issues involved in the successful transition from a closed reserve collection to an open, self-serve reserve room. A questionnaire answered by 200 patrons revealed a high level of satisfaction with the new system, indicated a need for more photocopiers, identified reserve materials used most frequently,…

Four contributing authors discuss perspectives on current trends in library interior design. Articles include: "Trends in Library Furnishings: A Manufacturer's Perspective" (Andrea Johnson); "Libraries, Architecture, and Light: The Architect's Perspective" (Rick McCarthy); "The Library Administrator's Perspective" (Chadwick Raymond); and "The…

This publication describes the Andrew Heiskell Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a regional library for the National Library Service (NLS) example of the creative use of physical space and innovative technology. The publication focuses on the materials-handling system designed for the new facility, including system design…

This report presents the results of a survey that gathered information from Association of Research Libraries (ARL) members on insuring library collections and buildings. Data are presented on kinds of insurance and coverage, valuation, special insurance on electronic data, sprinkler systems, losses, and insurance problems. A copy of the survey…

This checklist is designed to provide librarians, architects, and other members of a building design team with a list of questions to ask during the design phase of a new or remodeled library building project. The purpose of the questions is to make sure that no element of the building is overlooked by the building design team in their programming…

This report summarizes the decisions of the Virginia Commonwealth University Joint Committee to Study Library Periodical Services that were scheduled for implementation for the fall 1987 semester. Approved decisions are outlined for the areas of: (1) photocopiers, including photocopy services and Vendacard; (2) bound volumes, including loan…

Established in 1956, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) was charged to acquire and preserve books, periodicals, prints, films, recordings, and other library materials pertinent to medicine. Since the establishment of the NLM, significant effort has been devoted to carrying out preservation responsibilities. In 1983, the Library Operations (LO)…

The findings of a study team on the preservation of library materials are presented in three sections. The first section, which is a general analysis of the factors which created the current situation, discusses the library in its institutional setting; external factors affecting preservation, including publishing trends, developments in the…

Emphasizing the importance of the development and maintenance of a system of signs to make the library patron aware that a reliable pattern of information exists within the library, this report includes a selection of statements excerpted from Sign Systems for Libraries, a collection of papers on visual guidance systems in various types of…

The report examines patron characteristics and use patterns of the New York Public Library Research Libraries. A general user survey was conducted as well as surveys of the use of the Photographic Service, Special Collections, Special Study Areas, and Reference Correspondence Service. Chapter I is a summary of principal findings and conclusions.…