This essay served as the basis for the opening keynote speech during the Library Assessment Conference in Baltimore in 2010. It set the stage by tracing the demands for accountability in the beginning of the century and outlining progress made. It provided important background and context for the following four keynote papers delivered by Megan…

Reports the design, methodology, and results of a research project which examined the effectiveness of bibliographic displays produced by online catalogs. A means of testing displays against several hundred thousand records at a reasonable cost and using that to test several display possibilities is described. (CLB)

The need to plan for operating and service patterns and to establish priorities for services to readers in the new Reference and Bibliographical Center at the Newberry Library guided this self-study. From December 1983 to August 1984, 32 staff members (grouped into 1 study team and 4 task forces) investigated the critical issues of bibliographic…

This overview of the history of legislation governing the Danish library system from 1920 to the present: describes the various kinds of libraries in Denmark, explores the current controversies surrounding the roles of several supervisory library bodies, and details recent recommendations of the Danish Library Commission. (FM)

Examination of corporate donations of cash, products, service, and expertise to libraries highlights industry contributions in 1980; why corporations give; examples of corporate donations to various libraries (Brooklyn Public, New York Public, Altoona Area Public, Boston Public); planning fund-raising compaigns; and seven strategic planning…

This research project focuses on the implementation and testing of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system as an online searcher's tool for subject access, browsing, and display in an online catalog. The research project comprises 12 activities. The three interim reports in this document cover the first seven of these activities: (1) obtain…

This addendum is designed to compensate for Altick's omission of materials by or about black writers in "The Art of Literary Research" and to identify some of the most outstanding public, university, and private library holdings in the United States on American blacks, as well as major Afro-American collections. Major public library…

Discusses the role of advanced technology in developing new library systems and facilities. Considers the impact of computers on acquisition, reproduction, and availability of material in both general-use libraries and special research facilities, particularly in terms of cost. (JMF)

Papers on public libraries, which were presented at the 1983 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference, include: (1) "The Role of Public Libraries in Developing Countries with Particular Reference to the Gambia" by Sally P. C. N'Jie (The Gambia); (2) "Public Libraries in the Federal Republic of Germany…

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)

Compares the more positive library automation experiences of a small public library with those of a large research library. Topics addressed include collection size; computer size and the need for outside control of a data processing center; staff size; selection process for hardware and software; and accountability. (LRW)

This document presents an analytical bibliography of literature on the library of the future that was published between the years 1983 and 1994. This project had four objectives: (1) to identify and retrieve published literature on the library of the future; (2) to formulate document surrogates for this literature and add them to a computerized…

The May 1985 program session of the Library of Congress Network Advisory Committee focused on the identification of key issues in the networking field. Presentations included discussions of major network developments in the last two decades, the changing network players, the impact of technology on networks, and library networks and the law. The…

This report briefly reviews the current situation in Tanzania with respect to scientific and technical (S&T) information provision at the research and development (R&D) level, and formulates proposals to revive a workable situation for the R&D community. A presentation of the objectives of a mission to Dar es Salaam is followed by a…

Discusses education of special librarians and public librarians in West Germany and presents a model of an integrated course of study at the Hamburg College of Librarianship. Highlights include the influence of new technology on libraries and the importance of specialized subject knowledge in addition to library and information training. (LRW)