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Collection development and management in academic libraries continue to present a considerable challenge, especially in interdisciplinary fields. In order to ascertain patterns of interdisciplinary research, including the patterns of demand for bibliographic resources, this study analyzes the input/output factors that are related to the research activities and subsequent publications of the faculty of the School of Communications, Information and Library Studies (SCILS) at Rutgers University (New Jersey). This school was studied because its mission is explicitly interdisciplinary. A list of the SCILS faculty publications was obtained through the University Computing Center, where the records of the annual survey of faculty activities are kept. The input portion of the study identified the Library of Congress classification numbers of those works that were cited by SCILS faculty who were carrying out research leading to publication. The output portion of the study identified the SCILS faculty publications by their Library of Congress classification numbers. A total of 1,622 titles were analyzed. Analyses of the data indicate that approximately 46% of the intellectual endeavor of the SCILS faculty falls outside of their own disciplinary areas. In addition to being consumers of materials from other fields, the faculty are also producers in those fields. It is imperative that selection librarians understand the fluidity of current research activities and the extent of interdisciplinary demands that are being placed upon research collections. (Author/SD)

Examines the growing body of literature dealing with interdisciplinary academic research and discusses challenges that the erosion of subject-area boundaries presents to those selecting library materials. Reports on a case study that ascertained patterns of interdisciplinary research at Rutgers University's School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies. (Author/BEW)

This report describes the aspirations and inspirations as well as the data collection and analyses which constituted the first phase of activity under the Mellon Foundation grant to examine collection development and management at Cornell. The emphasis is mainly on analytical and planning processes rather than specific results during this first phase. Efforts for constituting a unified model for collection development have centered on identifying and elaborating the factors affecting these processes and on locating ways to evaluate each. Data collection is incomplete and some data elements may remain intractable; however, a comprehensive model remains a goal. This report, laying a foundation for research and planning during the second phase, is divided into eight sections. The first provides background and an overview. The second defines project goals in specific terms and develops a strategy to achieve them. The next three illustrate specific data gathered for purposes of collection development and evaluation. The focus is shifted in section six to various levels of decisions and decision-making within the libraries. Section seven concerns activities pertinent to collection management at Cornell and section eight summarizes the report. Appendices include project working papers, a summary list of data collected, and project chronology. (RAA)