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The article offers updates on the services and developments of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in the U.S. It says that ARL's committee implemented another change that makes the association more relevant for the 21st century and mentions that ARL's electronic resource offers research, teaching, and learning process. It notes that ARL libraries are adding a growing number of electronic books to their collections and half of its budget is spent on electronic resources.

The article reports on the development of a new approach by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Statistics and Assessment Committee in keeping track with library collections in the U.S. According to the Committee, the titles rather than subscriptions can reflect better the true range of the serial content provided by research libraries. The evaluation result of the applicability of the process indicates its feasibility and practicality in the short and long term application.

Discusses a project implemented by the Association of Research Libraries aimed at measuring the ease and breadth of user access in libraries. Factual background on the inception of the project; Methods for gathering library use data; Identification of library performance factors and areas of improvement.

Features two products for use in evaluating user satisfaction and market penetration of quality library service. Adaptation of a survey to the digital library environment; Application of a data set created for use in digital libraries; Background on the library performance data set.

The article discusses the impact of electronic publishing on tracking research library investment in serials. With the introduction of electronic publishing and the consequent rise in dual-format publishing, serial publishing change dramatically. Through this development, libraries now are acquiring access to serials abundantly.

Reports that the slower growth rate for serial unit costs may be evidence that academic libraries are beginning to behave like an informed consumer. Increase in the average cost of serial subscription compared to the consumer price index; Proliferation of electronic serials; Rejection of Reed Elsevier's ScienceDirect online product.

Reports the highlights of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Annual Salary Survey for ARL librarians from 2003 to 2004. Increase in the combined median salary for U.S. and Canadian ARL university libraries; Manifestation of a higher gap between salaries in private U.S. ARL university libraries and those paid in publicly supported U.S. University libraries; Concurrence of gender gap in ARL university libraries.

The article reports on the study concerning librarians in the workforce to be conducted by the University of North Carolina and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The study will attempt to identify the nature of anticipated labor shortages, assess the number and types of jobs that will become available in the field of library and information science determine the skills required and recommend effective approaches to recruiting and retaining workers.

Reports on the increase of the median total library expenditures of the Association of Research Libraries in the U.S. Comparison between the average rate rise of material, salary and operating expenditures; Directions of the expenditure trends; Challenges facing research libraries for the forcible future.

Looks into a LibQUAL+™ survey conducted in libraries around the U.S. Identification of the perspectives measured by the study; Inclusion of questions on perceived outcomes from library use, general satisfaction with library service, and frequency of library use; Description of the survey.

Discusses a program implemented by the National Science Foundation aimed at evaluating the educational impact of digital libraries. Core integration of large components; Encouragement for continual improvements in technology and service; Formative nature of evaluation.