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The article discusses research which investigated how academic librarians feel they are serving their faculty clientele and how faculty members feel they are being served by their libraries. Topics discussed include areas that academic libraries can focus efforts to bring their service to faculty, as well as students, to the next level, the four primary essential library services like instruction of students in information literacy, and emphasis on collaboration and communication.

Presents information concerning changes which have been made to the Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC) by the Decimal Classification Division (DCD) staff at the Library of Congress. System in which libraries may feel that it is useless to report feedback from librarians and library users concerning the system to DCD; Argument that initiatives and surveys concerning the use of the system in libraries have not had an impact on the DCD; Criticism that the index volume needs to be revised; Concern that those in charge of the DDC do not understand the complaints of librarians about the system; View that a revision solution would be to integrate new or expanded topics within existing schedules by adding digits to current numbers, reviving latent notations, or redefining the scope of active numbers.

This article examines the increase in library's audio collections in 1990. In January 1990 the Library Journal (LJ) conducted an audio market study in which 372 libraries participated. A total of 277 libraries responded to a question asking if they expected their audio budgets to rise in 1991. Thirty percent of the respondents said yes. An LJ poll of the 20 highest audio-purchasing libraries, conducted in February 1991, revealed that one half reported increases in their total spoken word audio budgets for 1991. The 1990 LJ survey indicated that audio users are sharply divided, as a whole, in their preference for abridge versus unabridged programs, although neither side represents a clear majority. Of the 372 survey participants, 314 libraries responded to a question asking if their patrons preferred a particular format; 37.6 percent claimed their patrons preferred the full-length treatment, while 32.2 percent reported a preference for abridged audio. A comment common to many respondents was individual customers tend to have strong preferences for either one or the other, depending on their listening circumstances, so neither is a clear favorite. However, the customers who like unabridged have been more vocal. INSET: Kristen Smith: Straight talk about audio reviewing..

The article examines the role of technology in libraries. Libraries began using online systems in the early 1970s to automate internal procedures such as acquisitions and circulation control. This process of internal automation created an up-to-date online file of bibliographic information, including holdings and status availability of a library's collection. Initially, this online file was used only by library personnel at staff-use terminals. The proliferation of online terminals and the expansion of this valuable database have gradually attracted the library's users to its use. To meet this demand, libraries are now providing direct access for library users through the use of online public access catalogs. These are equipped with so-called user friendly interfaces with which a wide range of library users feel comfortable. Searching by subject, title, author, or keyword, library users can access all of the information in the catalog that relates to a specific word or phrase. Compared to the conventional card catalog, the online public access terminal quickly provides current information on a library's holdings, their availability, and their whereabouts. Library automation has now evolved into a powerful aid for gaining access to information both inside and outside the library.

The article presents an overview of the impact that a struggling U.S. economy is having on the budgets of U.S. libraries and on the importance of good customer services in libraries. In the article the author offers his opinions on the importance of providing good customer services and suggests that libraries need to increase their efforts to provide unique and meaningful services to customers. INSET: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SHOW US YOUR BEST DESIGN DECISIONS.

The article looks at new and emerging digital literacies in the field of library science. The emergence of emoji as a new type of language is discussed, highlighting its possible use by library users to express their feelings about a book or movie. Digital literacy is defined as the ability of people to find, use and create information.

This article reports on the decision of South Carolina's public library directors to continue efforts to see a library trespass bill adopted into law, even after a veto by Governor Nikki Haley. The bill would permit a misdemeanor trespass charge against any library patron returning to the premises before the expiration of a written warning. The plan of the South Carolina Association of Public Library Administrators (SCAPLA) to continue lobbying for the bill is cited.

Discusses the professional responsibilities of librarians in acquiring books for library collections. Thoughts on how the decisions of some librarians may be affected by the opinions of library users; Challenges facing academic librarians who may be pressured by faculty to purchase certain publications; The impact of Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey on library acquisitions decisions; Reflection on the expertise of librarians in purchasing books in public and academic libraries; Argument that librarians must be able to define and explain the purpose of the library in order to build a collection for it.

Comments on articles pertaining to library science in the U.S., featured in the October 1988 issue of the ' Library Journal.' Practice of free library service; Labeling of sexist and racist books to warn the library patron; Attempts to influence Library of Congress subject heading policy; Commercialism in libraries.

Reports on developments related to library science compiled as of May 1988. Focus of the annual meeting of the Association for Computing Machinery Special Interest Group on Graphics on advances in visual images and the scientific visualization; Article on image retrieval and image processing in a 1988 issue of 'Annual Review of Information Science and Technology'; Issues pertaining to regulations for library use.

Examines key issues and developments relevant to the use and misuse of library user studies. Effectiveness of user studies to determine how individuals like the libraries which serve them; Conduct of user surveys; Prospects for improving library services.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including "Protect Thy Patrons" by Rebecca Miller, "The Library as Catalyst for Civic Engagement" by Bill Ptacek, and "Delivering the Library" by Bob Warburton.

In this article the author considers the relationship between libraries and bookstores, particularly the systems of classification that each use. The author discusses integrating the bookstore model into libraries and phasing out the Dewey decimal system of classification in libraries. The author believes that libraries need to create a user-responsive environment.

The author reports on a service that has been created by the company Credo Reference that assists library users in logging onto electronic content. The way in which Credo Reference cross-references a user's information to find institutions where they can gain access to the information they are looking for is discussed.

The article presents a survey asking librarians how they would spend $20,000. Marshall Shore, Manager, Ocotillo Branch Library, Phoenix Public Library, would erect a huge sign outside the library that would include a television screen, allowing them to market programs and services. Corinne Hill, Collection Development Manager, Denton Public Library, Texas, would spend $12,000 to get a subscription with Recorded Books for audio download and $8000 on audiobook CDs. Steven Bell, Director, Paul J. Gutman Library, Philadelphia University, suggested offering $1000 stipends to the most influential faculty to persuade them to participate in a summer workshop on using the library's electronic resources. The money would be spent by Mary "Cal" Zunt, Manager, Carnegie West Branch, Cleveland Public Library, to purchase two computer workstations for her differently abled patrons, design a teen-friendly reading area, and pay honoraria for Latino poets/authors.

This article looks at the development of a integrated library system by Georgia's Office of Public Library Services. Claiming that no integrated library system (ILS) meets its needs, the Public Information Network for Electronic Services (PINES) Consortium is developing its own. PINES includes 250 public libraries in 44 systems (out of Georgia's 58 library systems). It has over 1.3 million active users and includes nearly eight million items. "We're unique among consortia in that we are more centralized, with one single database on one server," explained Julie Walker, PINES systems administrator. "So we have more issues on all levels when looking for a solution." Walker reports that there are no products designed for a large consortia, nor were any vendors concentrating on this market in the near future. The goal is to have an alpha version of the cataloging, circulation, and OPAC modules by June 2005. "We'll take this to our members and the PINES executive committee for confirmation that we're headed in the right direction," Walker said. It is intended that all modules are live by the end of 2006.

The article offers tips, techniques and rules for librarians, contributed by several librarians in the U.S. Many of the most interesting and relevant publications received through the Government Printing office depository program are on microfiche. To bring attention to them, a variety of titles and print out copies of the cover page, table of contents, and the first page of the publication were selected by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Library in Troy, New York. Richard H. Quay, Social Sciences Librarian and Education Bibliographer of the Miami University Libraries in Oxford, Ohio provided tips on dealing with their patrons on a personal level. First, writing a note to each new graduate student in the School of Education and Allied Professions of the university. Second, writing notes of congratulations to those professors who get promoted. Another suggestion in order to avoid the mistake of withdrawing low-circulation books that must be kept in the collection regardless, the Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff library began marking title pages with appropriate messages such as standard work for those considered classics in their fields and recommended reading for titles on an instructor's reading list. This not only facilitates the weeding process, but alerts staff to important books.

This article discusses the author's views on how a subscription agency can provide assistance to collection development personnel through customized serials management reports. Databases' capability to produce customize reports can greatly aid customers in the selection and deselection of serial titles. Since many libraries use the Library of Congress (LC) classification system to separate titles by subject, we offer a report listing a customer's titles on order alphabetically within each two letter LC grouping. If a customer needs a breakdown of the library's serials by academic department on campus, several helpful reports can be produced by using a unique six-character alpha-numeric code to identify each of their titles on order by subject, fund, cost center or department. Two customized Index Reports offer the indexing information collection development librarians need. One indicates where each journal is indexed or abstracted, while the second lists the library's holdings by each index or abstracting service. Budget Analysis Report splits a customer's list into foreign and domestic titles, applies the relevant inflation factor to each and provides a realistic estimate for the coming subscription year.