Purchase Of Books Research Articles

Booked to Die: Australia’s Information Future

The decline of Australia’s university libraries and information infrastructure is chronicled in terms of diminishing budgets amid the general crisis affecting Australian universities at all levels. The Australian budget in 2000 revealed yet again the lack of action shown by the Liberal Government in terms of addressing the knowledge issues for higher education against relatively weak responses from the opposition party, is noted. Considers the role that national and state libraries can play in redressing this imbalance, pointing to the example of Western Australia, which has announced the aim to ensure that all members of Western Australia are connected to the Internet in five years. Points specifically to the crisis in science periodicals, the issues raised by libraries against the periodicals publishers’ quest for ever greater profits at the expense of scholarly communication and some of the initiatives that are trying to ease matters. Records the decline in book purchasing in Australia’s university libraries, points to the need for national collection co-ordination, along the lines suggested by the Coalition for Innovation in Scholarly Communication (CISC) and a urges a rethink about the whole business of academic book publishing. It is concluded that the issues are long term and the way information is produced and distributed, especially by multinational conglomerates, will see dramatic change in the next few years. If the commercial market is allowed to rule totally over ‘public good’ issues then Australia’s future will be bleak.

Managing an acquisition windfall: a Nigerian university library experience

This paper discusses the problems of managing an acquisition windfall in a Nigerian university library after over a decade of acquisition drought brought about as a result of a serious downturn in the economy. The windfall, which came in the form of a World Bank $120 million facility to 20 federally owned Nigerian universities for the purchase of books, journals, library and laboratory equipment as well as staff training and expatriate supplementation, drastically changed acquisition patterns and rates in the affected university libraries. The responses by the library of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, to the challenges of involving the faculty in the book selection processes, ensuring balance, processing the orders and receiving the materials into the library are highlighted. Post World Bank faculty prospects of Nigerian university libraries are also explored.

Liberalization and Democratization: The Forum and the Hearth in the Era of Cosmopolitan Post-Industrial Capitalism

SOL PICCIOTTO [*] I INTRODUCTION THE MISNOMER OF PRIVATIZATION The processes described under the misleading term privatization have been part of a major social restructuring in both the political and economic spheres. Most notably, widespread state failures have resulted in significant changes in the form and functions of the state. This reform encompasses not only the collapse of state socialism, but also crises and radical reforms in developed capitalist states, including U.S. regulated corporatism, European-style social-democratic welfare states, and the developmental states of Japan and the Asian tigers. The causes of these changes have been equally diverse, involving a mixture of both political and economic factors. Nevertheless, these processes have much in common, entailing a transition to post-industrial capitalism, or what Manuel Castells has called the Information Age. [1] The crisis of the state has been most evident in eastern Europe and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which experienced a systemic social crisis of both political autocracy and economic centralization. Elsewhere, the relationships between the political and economic aspects have been less explicit, and thus the overall nature of the processes has been harder to grasp. One linking element has been the increased difficulty of legitimizing expenditures from general taxes--especially those paid by direct taxes on income. This problem applied not only to social and welfare spending, but also to funding of the renewal of infrastructure, in particular, expenses to keep pace with emerging needs and technologies in areas such as transportation and telecommunications. At the same time, political systems found it increasingly difficult to resolve conflicting claims and demands in services. New mechanisms were devised to decentralize decisionmaking and introduce market principles into sector resource allocation. Although these changes were often presented as a decentralization or devolution of power, this characterization was in many respects misleading because the power devolved was generally limited to micro-management of shrinking resources within the parameters defined from above. I had first-hand experience of this process as an elected school governor from 1989 to 1991, not long after the British Conservative government had introduced devolved budgetary management in schools. That system was billed as a transfer of power from local education authorities to head-teachers and governors. In practice, it relieved our local authority of the responsibility for difficult decisions, such as deciding whether to close small rural schools or balancing staffing ne eds against book purchasing; however, central government essentially determined the parameters for these decisions by setting the weighting criteria for budgetary allocations to schools. Similar attempts were made in other services, such as health care. Thus, although there has been much political talk of rolling back the state, the process has largely consisted of remodeling the public sphere of politics and its relationship to the sphere of economic activity. This is shown even by crude measures, such as state expenditure as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which has scarcely fallen even in countries where there has been extensive privatization. [2] At the same time, major transformations have also been occurring in the forms of organization of so-called private enterprise, that is, the business economy dominated by the giant corporation. Large-scale mass manufacturing has been reorganized, and the centralized bureaucratic firm has become the lean and mean corporation, concentrating on its core competencies but operating within a web of strategic alliances, supplier chains, and financial and governmental networks. [3] Many of these changes have been driven by social pressures from below. …

Music and Repertoire in Ghent: The Music Inventory of 1616 of the Collegiate Church of St. Veerle and Information on the Purchase of Music Books in the 16th Century

Music and Repertoire in Ghent: The Music Inventory of 1616 of the Collegiate Church of St. Veerle and Information on the Purchase of Music Books in the 16th Century

The Monographic Series Approval Plan: An Attempt to Refine Purchasing of Books in Series

Librarians often place standing orders for monographic series in order to ensure complete holdings. This can result in the acquisition of inappropriate materials. It is possible to include hooks in series on a comprehensive approval plan that will permit return rights and still obtain a higher discount. However, some books might not fit the institution’s profile and thus will not be supplied. Some control of the series is also lost. A third alternative is presented here: an approval plan limited to monographic series.

Local poets and libraries

A survey by questionnaire was conducted in order to obtain details of criteria employed in libraries in the shelving of the works of local poets in local collections or on the main poetry shelves. The general extent of interest in book search and purchase of such works, and provision of venue facilities involving local poets reading their work were also determined. A considerable variation in shelving policy was found. More publicity for the local poet and his work is advocated, together with the ideal of large regional collections, such as achieved by the Northern Poetry Library.

Books, Books, Books!

Books, the GOLD standard for disseminating and storing information for five centuries, may have become victims of their own success. There are too many books! Medical libraries are bursting with books and periodicals. Most university libraries are being forced to cut back on periodical subscriptions and new book purchases because of budgetary and space constraints. The medical information explosion of the last half century has helped to fuel this surfeit of literature. As a rough example, 25 medical publishers were listed as exhibitors at the 1993 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in Dallas, Tex, and a year later in Chicago, Ill, at the Academy's annual meeting, the number had grown to 38—an increase of 34%! In a microcosm, theArchivesis also suffering from a plethora of books. There are an increasing number of new titles to review each month and theArchiveshas a very precise space allotment

Using the Internet for Marketing: A Publisher's Secrets

The Internet has become sufficiently accessible to publishers, authors, and purchasers of scholarly books and journals that no publisher can afford to ignore it as a vehicle for promotion, sales, and distribution. There are tools now available that make it possible to identify and reach target audiences directly, and using these tools need not be an expensive undertaking. Some practical tips are outlined here.

Obsolescence and stress

Reports the results of a study at the main library of Cape Town University, to investigate complaints about ageing book stock and declin ing resources and observations that many books were hardly circulating. The study aimed to establish the pro portion of the books in the library which were actively circulating and whether the accepted phenomenon of decline in use with age, or obso lescence, would be supported in an environment where a reduction in the purchase of new books was evi dent. Two separate investigations were conducted: a diachronous study of accession dates, classification num bers and date labels of the open shelf collection; and a synchronous study of books on loan during the period of investigation. The resulting databas es consisted of 2654 and 1023 records respectively. Evidence suggests that older books, do not exhibit the expected characteristics of obsoles cence and, while a certain measure of decline of use with age was demonstrated, such decline may be reversed in times of decreasing resources or increasing demands from existing resources. Suggests that the Library could develop an informed weeding policy that will enable it to remove from the shelves those mat erials that have remained unused or little used for 25 years or more.

Principals and Superintendents: Perceptions of Involvement in the Budgeting Process

Expectations of principal participation in the budgeting process at the site level vary among principals and between principals and superintendents. If site-based budgeting is to be effective, district and school leaders should have similar expectations for the principal's role. We compared responses from superintendents and principals about the level of involvement of the principal in making budget decisions at the site. In this study, principal and superintendent respondents differed significantly about the degree of principal involvement in (a) salary decisions about non-certificated staff, (b) purchase of texts and library books, and (c) decisions affecting the building and the grounds. The groups indicated greater agreement about the degree of involvement in (a) the determination of teacher salaries and (b) decisions about purchasing instructional supplies and equipment.

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, United States of America and the Sharing of Special-Media Materials Among Libraries

The international sharing of braille and audio books and magazines among libraries and organizations for the blind is an important factor in expanding the universe of reading available to blind and physically handicapped persons. The sharing of such materials generally takes the form of interlending of books or of the permanent acquisition of books and magazines through purchase or gift and exchange arrangements. This article discusses the pros and cons of the purchase, loan, exchange, and donation of braille and audio books and magazines with particular reference to the experience of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.

A latent class poisson regression model for heterogeneous count data

AbstractIn this paper an approach is developed that accommodates heterogeneity in Poisson regression models for count data. The model developed assumes that heterogeneity arises from a distribution of both the intercept and the coefficients of the explanatory variables. We assume that the mixing distribution is discrete, resulting in a finite mixture model formulation. An EM algorithm for estimation is described, and the algorithm is applied to data on customer purchases of books offered through direct mail. Our model is compared empirically to a number of other approaches that deal with heterogeneity in Poisson regression models.

Books and the consumer: The who, what, and why of consumer book purchasing

In 1988, the Book Marketing Council (BMC) of the Publishers Association of Great Britain determined the need to establish consumer behavior and attitudes toward book buying and reading, and to monitor these over time. After extensive desk and pilot research in 1988, the study was put into the field for the first time in January 1989 and is now in its fifth year. Book Marketing Limited was established from the BMC in 1990, and has run the survey since then. This article describes the development and current conduct of the survey, summarizes some of its results, and suggests questions that might be examined in the future.

The management of stock in minority languages in British public libraries

In recent years there has been growing concern about the need for UK public libraries to provide materials in minority foreign languages (Asian languages for immigrants from the Indian subconti nent, other Asian countries and languages of European immigrant communities). Describes the results of a questionnaire survey of 110 library authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, conducted by Leicestershire Library and Information Plan (LLIP), at the request of Library and Information Co-operation Council (LINC), to collect factual data concerning the levels of expenditure on books in the range of languages covered. Eighty-three of the 110 public library authorities responded, plus four of the regional library systems. Reports data for lan guages coverd by region (27 different lan guages) ; projected expenditure for each language for 1991-92; and the use of library co-operatives. Notes the common est languages covered, the fact that the annual expenditure on purchase of such books exceeded 5000 pounds in only 13 authorities, and the services of co-opera tives was valued. The need for further provision of languages from Western Europe was noted. On the basis of this interim report, the following five topics were identified as being worth further investigation: organizational structures; adequacy of provision; stock manage ment; financial provision; and strategic issues. Concludes with prioritized recom mendations to be built into a 3 year plan.

Third Generation Nigerian University Libraries

A study of the development of third generation Nigerian university libraries established between 1980-1984 was conducted during the latter part of the 1990/91 session. The study, which was carried out through the use of a questionnaire, personal visits, as well as informal discussions with the staff, had the objective of determining the similarities and dissimilarities in the growth of the libraries using indices such as governance, finance, stock and services, etc., as well as problems affecting their effective performance. The outcome of the study showed that there are more areas of similarities than dissimilarities in the ways they operate. Poor funding, scarcity of foreign exchange for the purchase of library materials from abroad, near absence of modern information retrieval technologies as well as theft and mutilation of materials, were found to constitute major problems to their rapid development. The recently negotiated World Bank loan for the Nigerian university sector designed to inject some US$120m for the purchase of books, journals and library equipment among others gives a ray of hope, though on a short-term basis. It is suggested that to take the university libraries out of the woods, massive injection of funds on a long-term basis is required.

A Capital Idea: A Centennial Celebration Endowment Campaign

Following nearly three years of planning and negotiation, an endowment fund‐raising campaign was launched on behalf of the chemistry library at the University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign (UIUC). The campaign, tied to the 100th Anniversary of the chemistry library, was directed at UIUC School of Chemical Sciences (SCS) alumni and SCS faculty. Contributions were sought to create a $200,000 “birthday endowment,” a continuing fund to purchase books for the chemistry library, and endow the library monograph budget with at least $10,000 per year.

The effects of austerity on collection development in Nigerian University libraries with particular reference to Usmanu Danfodiyo University library, Sokoto

This article examines the effects of austerity on Usmanu Danfodiyo University Library, Sokoto, since its inception until 1990. It established that austerity began in the Library in 1981/82 and 1983/84 for the purchase of monographs and journals, respectively. Austerity has led to decreased allocations and lack of foreign exchange which in turn have led to declining book purchases, and journal subscriptions becoming almost non-existent because the local book market cannot meet the Library's demands. Foreign debts amount to several million naira, therefore UNESCO coupons and related facilities which should have been used to circumvent the effects of foreign exchange scarcity are used to pay these debts with the result that virtually nothing is being purchased from abroad.

Electronic information and Eastern Europe

No‐one doubts that the changes occurring in Eastern Europe will affect all forms of communication between the East and the West. The theme on which I was asked to speak is electronic communication. But the changes in availability of hard‐copy will be at least as important. I remember being in Warsaw in the early 1970s and spotting a copy of a German book that looked interesting in the Academy of Sciences bookshop. When I tried to buy it, I was referred to the bookshop manager, who explained that, although I was certainly entitled to do so, it was the only copy of the book that had been imported into Poland. We agreed that it was more important for it to go to a Polish library than into my collection. This underlined two points to me. The obvious one was that financial and other restrictions were limiting, in a major way, East European access to R & D information. Secondly, perhaps less obviously, it struck me that centralisation — in this case, of the purchase of books from abroad — could have some advantages. At least the bookshop manager seemed to have a clear grasp of the overall problems of book distribution in Poland. These same two aspects — problems of access and the role of central organisation — also seem to be basic to a discussion of electronic communication between East and West.

A "New Era in My Life": Ithiel Town Abroad

Ithiel Town traveled twice to England and Europe, intent on studying "improvements in the taste and science of architecture" and "bridge engineering." His first tour, between October 1829 and July 1830, preceded the zenith of his career. It can be retraced in a series of largely unpublished letters addressed to his daughter, Etha, and his partner, Alexander Jackson Davis. The correspondence relates Town's immediate reactions and, hence, taste; his contact with the artistic community in London, including such fellow American visitors as S. F. B. Morse, whom he accompanied to Rome; and his purchase of books and prints, which he later housed in the fireproof villa he built in New Haven between 1834 and 1836. The major legacy of his study was a deepened appreciation of historical architecture and an evident objective not of imitating specific historical works but of enhancing the scale and sophistication of his own design. He was also inspired to seek improved educational facilities and status for the profession in the United States, participating in the foundation of the short-lived American Institution of Architects. He maintained links with leading figures in the British architectural scene, being among the earliest nonresident members elected to the newly founded Institute of British Architects in 1836. The value he attached to his first tour was confirmed when, in July 1843, Town again crossed the Atlantic to examine recent developments and design, mainly in England and Paris, the effect of which was unfortunately curtailed by his death some six months after his return to New York in December 1843.

Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver

This international set of editors has assembled an outstanding list of contributing authors to compile a truly competitive text in the burgeoning field of gastrointestinal books. One of the advantages of this book is its combining of both the tubular system and the liver into a single manageable tome, which for both the practicing physician and student is an important aspect of any book purchase. By keeping the list of contributors small, the editors are able to present a fairly unified style, again facilitating the reading. The text is organized in part by organ system and in part by disease category. The first four chapters are devoted to a discussion of various types of investigative techniques in gastroenterology and include thorough explanations of radiology—barium, angiography, biliary and liver studies; imaging—computed tomography, ultrasound, and radionuclides; endoscopy—fiberoptics and accessories; and biopsy, cytology, and function studies—for which various techniques are described in detail