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Without understanding the value of collections as assets to the home institution, it is difficult for libraries to determine how best to make those assets most productive. This report describes how the Library of Congress developed and implemented a plan for greater accountability over its collections. The report presents a model for the management of library and archival collections, adaptable to any type of library that defines those collections as core assets and seeks to make them maximally productive while controlling risks to their integrity. The model focuses on business risk and proposes a framework of controls to minimize the risks that threaten the viability of those assets. The first section of the report defines business risk and discusses the origins of the risk-assessment model. The next section describes the risk-assessment process which includes creating an internal control framework identifying relevant controls, determining how to assess risk, conducting the risk assessment, addressing unacceptable risks, monitoring risk, and limitations on internal control. Finally, long-term benefits of risk assessment are outlined, with discussion on integrating technology and taking preventive action. The business risk model is fully described in the appendix. (AEF)

This paper discusses problems related to library collection of science materials from developing regions, including price increases leading to cancellation of peripheral titles. The importance of access and preservation of such materials is noted. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Science Research Materials Project (SRMP) initiative to make accessible and to preserve the scientific and technical materials of developing nations is then described, including the following elements of SRMP's proposed cooperative solution: a larger pool of acquisitions funds; an environmentally controlled collection archive for access and preservation; an enhanced ability to build and maintain local collections; a widely accessible electronic and traditional delivery mechanism; an expanded opportunity to seek grants and endowments; and a framework to foster cooperative projects. SRMP members are listed. (MES)

An academic librarian who is a Vietnam War veteran was inspired by the exemplary collection of Vietnam War literature at the Colorado State University Library to begin his own personal collection of mass market paperbacks dealing with the Vietnam War. Although Vietnam War fiction was common on the mass market racks in the mid 1980s, it has been replaced by the Vietnam memoir. A noticeable trend is books written and published by Vietnam veterans in their 50s who have been financially successful, have retired, and now have the time to tell their own special story, often in the form of fiction. A big help in finding Vietnam fiction is the Internet, but Marc Leeson's column in "The VVA Veteran" is the best single source. The narrator/librarian also refers to the three books he has written about his Vietnam experiences, "REMF Diary,""The REMF Returns," and "In the Army Now." Although he set out to be a war novelist and not the bibliographer that he is, he finds himself annotating Vietnam War literature for the third edition of John Newman's "Bibliography"--studying Newman's annotations and modeling his own on them. In the meantime, most of the books he has accumulated are either in the Joe Hooper Collection at Green River Community College or in his own bookroom. (NKA)

This report is the product of a cooperative planning effort by a group of leaders in higher education across Missouri to summarize the available resources for distance education in the state and offer recommendations for increased access. After an introduction, a description of the planning process, and a statement of the group's guiding principles, the report urges that any telecommunications-based delivery system should: emphasize access, be learner-centered, be faculty-supported, provide high quality instruction, support institutional missions, emphasize educational partnerships, use integrated evaluation and improvement strategies, and use appropriate technologies. The current status of telecommunications supported distance learning in Missouri high education is detailed for the specific areas of Internet services, Community Information Networks, video networks, satellite downlinks, and degree programs offered through cooperative arrangements. Extensive recommendations are addressed to the Governor and General Assembly, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, other state agencies, educational partnerships, and individual institutions. These focus on increasing access, development of a voice/video/data network, expansion of the state information technology system, adoption of a common data exchange system, and statewide access to library resources. A time-frame for implementing recommendations is also provided. Eight appendices provide detail on personnel involved in the report, reports from affinity groups, and lists of current distance education programs. (Contains 13 references.) (JLS)

Attention to school libraries must be at the heart of any comprehensive plan for improving youth literacy. Excellent school libraries are essential if young people are to have access to the reading resources to help them gain the level of literacy achievement vital to meeting the challenge of the twenty-first century. Sections of the booklet discuss facing the challenge of the twenty-first century; the role of school libraries; the "sad state" of school libraries in Indiana; how much should be spent on books for middle grades school libraries; how long it will take to rebuild school library book collections; what needs to be done now to make a commitment to school libraries; and school libraries and young Hoosiers. Contains eight references and the Reading Bill of Rights for Indiana's Young Adolescents. Appendixes present a library books inventory form, a chart indicating library inventory by copyright date, a library endowment plan, and a form for a library media center monthly report. (RS)

This paper provides background on The National Library of Estonia (NLE), discusses a fellowship project for developing the National Library, and presents the impressions of the author, an Estonian American, who traveled to Estonia. The NLE looks to the West for automation, information, and institutional modeling. The NLE is Estonia's equivalent of the Library of Congress, but with a broader historic role in training librarians; it is the mandatory depository library for all books and magazines published in Estonia. The NLE's mission is to provide, preserve, and make available Estonian literature. There is widespread "technological friendliness" among National Library staff and public and school libraries in Estonia; much that is new and current comes through donations from contacts abroad and in Estonia. The NLE has a full conference center; a cafe; foreign reading rooms; a plan for a childcare facility; exhibit space; handicapped accessibility; and an arts division with musical scores, CD's, and recordings of Estonian composers and conductors. A mainframe computer that connects its operations, management development, and library automation are some of the needs that have been identified by the NLE. The fellowship project called for teaching and training to help develop operations in Estonia's Parliamentary Information Department. There was particular interest in acquisitions policies, techniques of analytical research, library automation systems, access to worldwide databases, and a general review of U.S. librarianship. (AEF)

The school library media specialist holds a strategic position to collaborate with English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers in designing activities that not only promote multicultural understanding, but also engage linguistically and culturally diverse students in the whole range of language learning and literacy. The unlimited resources of the school library media center can be adapted to benefit both ESL teachers and their students by adapting already existing resources to practices of second language acquisition methodology. The strategies described in this paper include the use of advance organizers, picture files, visuals, and books without words. (VWL)

This study presents the result of the Columbia-Greene Community College (New York) annual book use survey. The main purpose of the study was to determine which subject areas are most/least in demand, so that the library can acquire books to optimally meet actual demand. The library did a 12% arithmetic sample of the entire circulating collection. The acquisition year of the books in the collection was recorded, as well as the circulation history. In the sampling, the library recorded each piece of data for each book in the sample. Five graphs present the following data: (1) percent of books used at least once from January 1991 through June 1993, by year of acquisition; (2) average circulations per book from January 1991 through June 1993, by year of acquisition; (3) annual average circulations per book of 1977 acquisitions that were used in 1977 or 1978 versus those not used those first two years; (4) subsequent total circulations of 1977 acquisitions used versus unused in first years on shelf; and (5) percent of previously unused 1977 and 1978 acquisitions receiving their first ever use, by years on the shelf. (JLB)

This document provides a framework for direction and development of libraries in Nevada. This plan is based on input solicited from hundreds of citizens statewide in preparation for the Governor's Conference on Libraries held in May 1990 and has been developed to reflect the current and best thinking of public, school, and academic librarians. The plan addresses the following issues in libraries: (1) role of libraries, including education, business/economy, and cultural/recreational; (2) services; (3) collections; (4) information access/resource sharing/interlibrary loan; (5) library standards and certification; (6) continuing education; and (7) public awareness/library image. A list of acronyms and definitions is included. (JLB)

In response to its space limitations, the Robert Manning Strozier Library at Florida State University decided to reduce the size and rate of growth of its federal documents collection. The committee charged with the task decided that the first step was to codify selection/deselection procedures into a written policy. The policy had to be consistent with the library's general collection development policy and in compliance with the Superintendent of Documents guidelines for depository libraries. for reviewing the policy every 3 years. A list of seven other libraries and drew from them, as appropriate, their organization, consideration of critical factors, or language. This paper includes a copy of the final draft of the Florida State University policy, which is divided into six sections: (1) a history and description of the current collection; (2) a description of the university and community audiences served by the depository and the responsibilities and services of selective depositories; (3) selection and deselection policies; (4) guidelines for selection; (5) the weeding process; (6) a means for reviewing the policy every 3 years. A list of seven libraries that furnished the committee with copies of their depository policies is appended. (Contains 10 references.) (KRN)

This paper identifies obstacles to physical and intellectual access and effective use of books and media by South African children and suggests some possible solutions. It also includes a description of a study of the attitudes of first-year student teachers at colleges of education and universities in the Transvaal towards school libraries. The paper includes nine graphs depicting the findings. Obstacles to access identified in South Africa are similar to those in other developing countries and include: socio-economic problems, illiteracy, lack of reading tradition, insufficient library facilities or information technology for the majority of the population, few books published locally by black writers in indigenous languages, and few qualified media teachers. Resources found in South Africa include many well-stocked media centers, some centralized and regional media collections, training courses for media teachers, and programs to encourage reading undertaken by READ Educational Trust (an independent organization) in many of the disadvantaged schools. Ways to make books and media accessible to all children include the redistribution or sharing of resources, community libraries, and cooperation in the development of a national policy for school libraries. Once problems of access are solved, effective use can follow. An example of black traditional literature is appended. (Contains 41 references.) (KRN)

This 5-year master plan reflects the Nevada State Library and Archives' continuing commitment to providing open access to comprehensive state of the art information services and to preserving Nevada's valuable information resources. The planning process is indispensable to the design of systems and programs which will meet the changing information demands of government, business, and the public. Ten major goals are stated which are each linked to specific objectives representing a collective image of the way library and information services should develop as we move toward the year 2000. The goals address issues in the areas of: state information policy; public services; library development; archives and records management; collections and preservation; literacy and lifelong learning; program enhancement; outreach and public information; continuing education; and staffing and funding. The goals and objectives are followed by a detailed action plan--the mechanism by which the plan will be achieved. The action plan identifies: what specific actions must be taken; person(s) or divisions responsible for each action; and deadlines for completing each action. (JLB)

Noting that there has been a dramatic increase in the use of videotape in recent years, this paper explores videotape's potential as an archival medium. It is suggested that the nation's current videotape holdings should be surveyed to better define the relative importance of the records already documented, to identify records not previously known to exist, and to draw attention to little-known and potentially untapped veins of historically valuable videotapes. A discussion of videotape standards indicates how standards need to be developed in the areas of compatibility of formats and permanence. It is also noted that, while there are a number of appropriate videotape uses, it would be inappropriate to use videotape as the sole source for recording information of permanent value unless suitable preservation activities were undertaken. An overview of videotape preservation methods is given, followed by a discussion of environmental conditions, handling and storage procedures, and the importance of preserving the technology that processes the videotapes. (13 references) (MAB)

This report describes the work of the Task Force on Library and Information Services to Cultural Minorities, which was appointed by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) to explore the status of services, resources, and programs for American Indians, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Afro-Americans, and to make recommendations for improvement. Sections cover: (1) minority library and information needs; (2) the representation of minorities among library personnel, with a discussion of salaries, library schools and library education, continuing library education, staff development programs, and specialized library skills; (3) library services and programs for minorities including adult education programs and information and referral services; (4) the material and resource needs of America's minorities, touching on availability of resources, networking, barriers to access, collection development, selection policies, publishing, and other areas of concern; and (5) financing of library programs for minorities, covering the funding status of these programs, financial planning, and funding requirements. Forty-two recommendations are presented. Also provided are an executive summary and a foreword noting eight recommendations which NCLIS has declined to support. Appendices describe the methodology and findings of a needs assessment study of library/information service for Asian Americans (with a sample questionnaire provided); report on the needs of other minorities; and list Task Force participants. (ESR)

This proposal for funding for Project ACCESS (A Curriculum-based Collection Evaluation and Selection System) Library Model for community colleges begins with a project description that discusses curriculum-based collection and services and computer-based operations and management at the Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Area Technical College (MATC) libraries. The next section addresses the need and rationale for a curriculum-based library, including results of a faculty survey, advantages of CD-ROM technology, state mandates for library cooperation, and results of a research review; and the third section presents a statement of objectives. The plan of operations for the 3-year proposal is then described for each objective, and credentials of key and support personnel are summarized. Project evaluation, budget and cost effectiveness, dissemination of project reports, and adequacy of MATC resources are also addressed. Supplemental materials include the proposed budget; a list of MATC programs; a booklet on the MATC Faculty Resource Center that includes a list of curriculum-related materials; minutes of committee meetings; a questionnaire designed to assess priorities for the Faculty Resource Center together with survey results; a report on site visits to other libraries; a report and recommendations leading to the formation of the existing Faculty Resource Center; and personnel resumes. (MES)

In their study of the usage demands placed on journal collections in academic libraries, Allen Kent and coauthors have not adequately considered the long-term variability of those demands in their formulation of a cost-benefit model for the management of journal collections. Though resource-sharing and the matching of periodical acquisitions to usage patterns can yield significant budgetary savings, the data gathering and data analysis techniques employed in Kent's study have limitations for predicting future use patterns and for making acquisitions decisions. The study fails to account for biases in usage patterns attributable to cyclical demands through the service day and academic year, and also fails to consider the intensity of journal use--quickly scanning an item counted as equivalent to reading it for several hours. Another shortcoming is the costly, labor-intensive aspect of Kent's technique: interviewers were used to contact individual journal users. Generalizing obsolescence rates over a group of titles is also questionable, for frequency of use as a function of age differs substantially between core and other journals with specific disciplines. Kent's study is useful in its development of a model for studying journal use, even though his methods are not satisfactory. (JL)

The problems of acquisition, bibliographic control, and accessibility to official documents, which are more pronounced in developing than developed countries, are reflected by the experience of the University of Zambia library. The library is concerned not only with Zambian official documents, but also with those of other Anglophone Sub-Saharan African countries, and publications of the United Nations and its agencies. The library's problems include inadequate bibliographical tools, shortages of foreign exchange and qualified personnel, unbalanced exchange programs, lack of standardized headings for government bodies, lack of legal depository privileges for Zambian documents, and restrictive library security practices that limit access for citizens and researchers. (Author/RAA)

This assessment of the conservation needs of the Frances Corrick Thomas Library begins with an examination of the architectural and environmental peculiarities of the existing building, which is seen as a major obstacle to achieving an effective conservation program. Needs are identified and recommendations for immediate and intermediate action, as well as long term plans, are provided for the library building and library materials. Activities recommended for immediate action require little or no funding, e.g., the development of written guidelines for emergencies and disasters. Plans for intermediate action focus on measures for conservation in the Rare Book Room and Special Collection Archives. Upgrading of conditions in other library areas is recommended under long range building plans. The discussion of library materials covers special collections, recent preventive conservation measures taken, a program for replacing worn books, and the microfilming of medical theses and heavily used books. Library staff and patrons are discussed in terms of training in the proper care of books and acquiring funding. Four appendices include a statement of aims and goals, the library collection development policy, library special collections policy, and a proposal for the establishment of a Friends of the Library organization. Thirteen references are listed. (RBF)

This final report of the American Fiction Project (AFP) describes two years of work during which AFP met its goals of: strengthening the Ohio State University Libraries (OSUL) collection of American fiction, 1901-1925; establishing a comprehensive bibliographic file of fiction of the period; and improving national bibliographic access to these materials. AFP's goals in the area of bibliographic control included: inspecting all volumes identified in OSUL's general collections as potentially falling within project scope and integrating them with already identified items in OSUL's Division of Special Collections; systematically reviewing a broad range of bibliographic tools to enrich an already established card file of fiction of the period and to identify titles not held by OSUL; and locating and purchasing titles not held. During the grant period, AFP cataloged on the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) database all titles acquired with project funds (4,500 books) and recataloged approximately 1,500 titles already owned by OSUL. Following a summary report, this document comprises the following sections: Introduction; Background of the American Fiction Project; The William Charvat American Fiction Collection; Rationale for a Bibliographic Data Base of American Fiction, 1901-1925; General Organization and Administration; Applications and Accomplishments--Bibliography; Applications and Accomplishments--Cataloging; Research Potential; and Future Work. Appendices include a summary of major activities and numerous examples of catalog records. A selected list of sources consulted is included. (THC)

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) senior staff included the development and implementation of a preservation program of the biomedical literature as one of four broad objectives in the LO 1984-88 strategic plan. A senior preservation planning team was appointed to analyze the state of the NLM collections, its environment, and use, and to present available options for preservation. The planning process used for this project was modeled on a self-study procedure developed by the Office of Management Studies (OMS) of the Association for Research Libraries (ARL) and described in "Preservation Planning Program: An Assisted Self-Study Manual for Libraries." This report documents the team's findings and presents a recommended plan of action for the library. Following an introduction and executive summary, the report covers: collection condition, physical facilities and environment, collection use and maintenance, present level of preservation activity at NLM, current state of preservation technology, external factors affecting NLM's preservation plan, and recommended strategies for preservation. Six appendices are included: a background paper; a list of task force members; procedures used in surveying the physical condition of the collection; indoor pollutant measurements of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, and ozone; draft preservation policy; and rationale and functions of the proposed preservation section. A brief list of references completes the report. (THC)

To improve bibliographic access to the individual works contained in "Landmarks of Science" and "Landmarks II," two comprehensive microform collections of materials related to the history of science, the staff of the University of Utah Libraries cataloged the individual titles. Staff members with backgrounds in Renaissance studies, history, philosophy, and science, and language capabilities in Greek, Latin, German, French, Italian, and Spanish, entered the monographs and serials into the OCLC database according to the standards of the second edition of the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules. Entry in OCLC has provided search capabilities not only to University of Utah Library patrons, but also to users at any of the 4,000 libraries using this bibliographic utility. This five-part project report comprises: (1) a discussion of the grant proposal; (2) an explanation of the organization of the project; (3) a description of the methods used for cataloging the microforms titles; (4) a discussion of the historical value of the "Landmarks Set"; and (5) footnotes to the body of the document. (THC)

This report responds to a proposal for an internal audit of the library collection at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and describes various measures that University Library Services (ULS) has already implemented to automate the inventory process and improve security. Introductory materials provide an executive summary and background information. The latter includes both a brief review of national library practice relating to inventories of academic library collections and brief descriptions of alternatives to a complete inventory. The main body of the report is divided into four sections: (1) current developments toward a book and serials inventory at VCU (Autolink Project, retrospective conversion project, insertion of security strips, adding journal holdings to the online catalog, use of the Faxon SC10 System, and a summary of the current status of the book and serials collections); (2) purposes of an inventory; (3) determining the nature of the current problem at the VCU library (operational imperatives and assumptions); and (4) recommendations (book inventory, serials inventory, special inventories). Appendixes contain Autolink statistics and a chart summarizing the inventory status of the library collections. (16 footnotes) (CGD)

This report examines the institutionalization of library services for distance education students at four educational institutions in British Columbia, and provides an overview of the status of distance library services in British Columbia by comparing those services with distance library service provided elsewhere in Canada. The development and current status of distance library services at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Victoria (UVic), Simon Fraser University (SFU), and the Open Learning Institute (OLI) are described, and the common distance library service elements of the four institutions are compared, including core collections, special telephone lines, requests for specific material, reference queries, interlibrary loans, computer literature searches, advertisement of services, bibliographic instruction, support staff, and charges for service. This comparison reveals that library services are an important component of university extension and distance education in British Columbia. The 31 replies received in a national survey of 42 university libraries, however, indicate that few libraries elsewhere in Canada employ a model of distance library service similar to the one used in British Columbia. It is noted that the growing body of literature on distance library services will help promote more awareness of these services and facilitate the development of a closer working relationship between distance education personnel and librarians. (KM)

The theme for the celebration of the Library of Congress treasures, "The World Encompassed," is suggested by the title of a nephew's account of Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the earth. This account is part of the Sir Francis Drake collection donated by patrons to the library. In April 1581, Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I for what was then the most profitable enterprise in the history of seafaring. Drake's career can remind those accustomed to television images that show reality as though it has sharp edges of some easily forgotton ambiguities and fuzzy edges of the great history-making adventures--whether they are the circumnavigations of the earth or the circumnavigations of the mind. Of all the nation's institutions, none tries more strenuously, more grandly, or more effectively to encompass the world than the Library of Congress. The library's treasures bear witness to that endeavor. Drake's voyage reminds us that only rarely is some great world-encompassing project accomplished in a predicted time. Great enterprises are enterprises of high risk, and high risk means great uncertainty. The Library of Congress, or any great library, is a point of embarkation on voyages for which there can be no timetable. Commitment to any of the greatest enterprises--circumnavigation of the earth or of the English language or of the world of science--is heroic because it is a commitment to the unknown. (HTH)

There is a role, and even a responsibility, for academic libraries in the United States in cooperating with students, scholars, colleagues, institutions, and governments in Third World nations. For example, the international library internship program, in which professional librarians at the middle-management level spend three to six months undertaking a personally tailored program of practical experience, addresses a real need for Malaysian librarians by providing opportunities to work with the latest in library and information technology in a library setting. In particular, Ohio University Library's Southeast Asia Collection not only affords librarians and library science faculty from Southeast Asia an opportunity to work with many of the same materials and languages they will encounter in their home institutions, but also offers valuable assistance in the exploration of the applications of technology to library services. More recently, the establishment of the Malaysian Resource Center within the Southeast Asia Collection recognizes the reality that the Southeast Asian Collection should be a primary source for anyone seeking research materials on Malaysia and represents a long-standing commitment to service beyond the immediate users at Ohio University. The Center will provide Malaysian and American students and faculty across the United States with opportunities for research and exploration. References are cited in four notes. (KM)

Specialized library collections and services are often not geared toward Indian nationals in Canada. Public libraries should serve ethnic minorities by providing staff with language abilities and sharing materials through interlibrary loan. Appendixes include a geographic overview of Canadian public library acts, sample initiatives for multicultural services, and a bibliography of 44 recommended sources. (BEW)

Dispels misconceptions about print journal publishing so electronic publishing will not be based on old myths. Explains the truth behind 10 myths that have arisen in the publishing community over the past 20 years. Finds that scientists are using more library-provided journals, and that libraries are reducing journal collections by relying on interlibrary loan and document delivery. (JMV)

During and after World War II, "trophy commissions" organized the systematic removal of German library holdings and art to Soviet libraries, archives, and museums. Discusses the organized transfer of cultural property, motives for transfer, German property in Russia today, and suggests that Germans and Russians should aid each other in locating and returning missing property. (PEN)

Describes a formula that nonspecialists can use for evaluating rare books. Concurrent consideration of the scarcity, significance (importance), beauty, and demand for a given book will determine its value or rarity. (JKP)

Addresses an article written by Nicholson Baker in 1994 that lamented the demise of the paper card catalog, and points out important aspects of online catalogs and library computerization not discussed by Baker: authority control, collection preservation, collection costs, and access to materials. (JKP)

In response to technological advances, future libraries will blend new technologies with traditional information resources by partitioning collections into various formats including print, nonprint, electronic, computerized, media, and video. In effect the library will be "freezing" portions of collections in their most appropriate formats based on the content and usage of the materials. (Author/JMV)

Presents a 1992 study which discovered and investigated collection development bias in academic and public libraries in California. The investigation was carried out in five stages: (1) selected a controversial topic; (2) identified representative works; (3) ranked works by qualified judges; (4) measured holdings via library online computer database; and (5) analyzed holding data. (JMV)

Information Technology education in Namibia faces problems such as inability of students and teachers to speak English and the absence of technology, books, and classrooms. Measures are being taken to upgrade schools and learning through the development of Information Science syllabi, modular book collections, and education for school librarianship. (JKP)