Discusses the historical foundations of memory and knowledge systems in sixteenth-century Europe and offers insights into the current situation and where our knowledge systems are bound. The development of hypersystems and a new approach to research librarianship are considered. (13 references) (MES)

Historical review covers: (1) the rise of research and research libraries, 1850-1900; (2) the genesis of reference service, 1875-95; (3) the growth of reference service in the research libraries, 1896-1916; (4) reference practices in the research libraries, 1896-1916; (5) legislative and municipal reference work, 1900-16; and (6) current trends…

Discusses factors that combined to make it possible for health sciences libraries to take initiative for developing technological methods and skills needed for computer librarianship before other types of libraries entered the field: size, money, medical center background, requirements of users, state of health science libraries and librarians,…

Describes development of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, which opened in 1913, including the history of its research library. Library collections in support of biology and history and services to curatorial staff and other users are discussed. Director, collection and staff size, and main subjects collected are noted. (EJS)

A branch of Smithsonian Institution Libraries, the National Air and Space Museum Library provides materials and services to support research programs of National Air and Space Museum. Brief histories of museum and its library and summary of museum programs provide background for overview of current library users, resources, and services.…

Argues that the Museum of Comparative Zoology Library reflects the union between the nineteenth century natural history values of Louis Agassiz and the twentieth century library and information science methodology. Special collections, records, cataloging and classification, serials and their classification, policies, services, and procedures are…

This history of the Library of the Deutsches Museum (Munich, Germany) covers the library's situation at end of the nineteenth century, library collections and buildings, use of the library for research, the rare book collection, and service statistics. Library director, collection and staff size, and main subjects collected are included. (EJS)

Subject concentration in the National Museum of American History Branch Library, a part of Smithsonian Institution Libraries system, is in the history of science and technology and American history, with emphasis on material culture and on documenting and servicing the museum's collections. Special collections include trade literature and…

Description of the rapid growth and development of Texas A&M's Sterling C. Evans Library during the past decade focuses on collection growth to over 1.4 million volumes, staffing increases, automated programs and services including over 100 microcomputers for computer-assisted instruction housed in Learning Resources Department, and online…

This illustrated publication, printed in both English and Finnish, describes Finland's libraries and information services. Topics covered include: (1) library users; (2) the conceptual role of the library; (3) the growth and development of the library system through Finland's agrarian, industrial, and budding infotech social phases; (4) the…

Since the organization of the United States Bureau of Education in 1867 statistics of public libraries have appeared periodically in the annual reports. It has been the purpose to gather such statistics every five years, but it has not been possible to carry out the plan with perfect regularity. For forty years every annual report of the bureau…

Through a comparison of the historical perspectives of medieval and modern libraries, this paper is designed to clarify the purpose and goals of the library, and to promote a public and intellectual debate to guide future developments. The Middle Ages were chosen because libraries possessed an importance and centrality to learning, civilization,…

Questions the soundness of the creation of the British Library and whether it has met its originators' expectations. Reviews its historical development, facility and staffing problems, the Lending Division, the Bibliographical Services Division, and the Research and Development Department. Seven references are listed. (RBF)

Traces the development of the British Library since its founding in 1973 and discusses problems and achievements in the library as a whole and in the Reference Division, the Lending Division, the Bibliographic Services Division, and the Research and Development Department. Listed are 73 references. (RBF)

This report presents the results of a project designed to assist the Department of Education, Office of Libraries and Learning Technologies (OLLT), and the wider community serves to identify research priorities for the 1980s in the field of library and information science. The rationale for establishing a national research agenda for the 1980s is…