In the absence of any convincing rationale or supporting evidence for alternative ways of grouping serials activities for coordination, librarians have found it hard to choose among different organizational structures for serials management. The principle of reciprocal interdependence is recommended as a theoretical basis for the grouping of serials activities. A successful application of the principle to serials management in a university library is described. An appraisal of the expected organizational impact of automation leads to the conclusion that a structure based on this principle will be equally as effective for automation as for manual operation.
The most important general conclusions reached so far through use studies of library materials are judged to be: (1) recorded use in many libraries is low; (2) use within the library parallels circulation; (3) past use predicts future use; (4) recent materials are used more frrequently; and (5) Americans use few foreign-lnuguage materials. Problems of measurement and interpretation are discussed.
There is a trend toward the use of nonsilver microfilm. Vesicular film., being one of these nonsilver films, has a lot going for it in terms of convenience, cost, and durability. This article explains, on a nontechnical basis, how vesicular film works, describes its components and image properties, and tells how it can be used. Libraries can save money by using vesicular microfilm, and at the same time have a more efficient medium.
A collection-evaluation technique that offers a quick and efficient means for obtaining an empirical evaluation of the depth of the collection in specific subject areas has been tried on an experimental basis at the University of Manitoba library system. The technique was tested twice in each of four different subject areas. Although inconsistencies in the results raise questions about the reliability of the technique, further analysis indicates that it does constitute a valid tool for evaluating the depth of the collection.
This paper discusses management needs for timely, appropriate, and comprehensive acquisitions information, noting that the requirement for summary and exception reporting mandates on-line, rather than off-line, automated acquisition systems. The extent to which present-day automated acquisition systems are likely to be fulfilling these needs is assessed on the basis of responses to a Resources and Technical Services Divison/Association of American Publishers questionnaire.
One of the basic questions in structuring a cataloging and classification course in a graduate library school program is the importance of teaching the course in the theoretical versus the practical mode or a combination of the two. This article reports the results of a survey of cataloging practitioners on their opinions on the following issues: (1) structure of the cataloging curriculum in today's graduate library school; (2) relationship of the use of computers in cataloging to the cataloging curriculum; and (3) adequacy of preparation of current graduates for positions as catalog librarians.
The serials book catalog of the Iowa State University Library, provides access to some 33,000 serial records by titles, corporate bodies, and subject headings. These access points are generated automatically from the central serials data base by a unique computer program that was locally written to allow great flexibility in the manipulation of records. A wide distribution of the catalog on and off campus assures maximum access. Local control of the catalog production permits expansion of the program format by the creation of local tags and linkage to related monograph records in the card catalog, while providing a basis for the further automation of serials control.
This paper briefly discusses the factors that might induce a library to consider changing from Sears to Library of Congress subject headings and provides a quantitative evaluation of the compatibility of Sears and LC headings.
In this article the author summarizes the activities of the RTSD Micropublishing Committee Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the Monitoring of Microform Advertising. Beginning in January 1977, subcommittee members compared the advertising of eighty-four American publishers, including all of the major microform producers, against a checklist of elements derived from the American National Standard for the Advertising of Micropublications. Responses were received from 64 percent of the companies evaluated, all expressing appreciation for the subcommittee's effort. The subcommittee also drafted sample microform replacement guidelines and circulated them to ten micropublishers for comment. After resolving that a follow-up study be conducted in 1982, the Micropublishing Committee dissolved the subcommittee in January 1979. Comments are requested from microforms acquisitions and selection librarians regarding the quality of the promotional materials they receive so that the results of the subcommittee's efforts can be more accurately assessed.