The Place of Library Science in the System of Knowledge: A Russian Perspective

ABSTRACT

The author examines the question of where library science fits in the general system of scholarly disciplines. He argues that it is a social science, and more particularly, a social communications science.     

A Proposed Solution to the Scholarly Communications Crisis

ABSTRACT

After reviewing the history and parameters of the scholarly communications crisis, particularly in regard to skyrocketing prices for journals in the natural sciences, the author reviews and rejects previously attempted solutions. He then employs the principles of game theory in proposing a new solution to the crisis.     

A Middle Englander Goes East

ABSTRACT

Memoirs are presented from a career spent largely in Slavic librarianship. After serving as Slavic specialist at Lancaster University (U.K.), Walker was from 1971 in charge of Slavic collections at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, and latterly also Head of Collection Development until his retirement in 2002. He was responsible for building the Bodleian's Slavic holdings, making extensive use of exchanges with Soviet and East European libraries. He researched and wrote on the Soviet publishing industry, relaunched the journal Solanus, and produced several bibliographies. He led the COCOREES national collaborative collection management project (1999–2002), and currently manages its successor, CURL-CoFoR. References to his principal publications are given.     

VCQ&A with Kim Komenich

Kim Komenich, 58, has worked as a photographer since he was a kid. He has traveled the world, making pictures—from Iraq to Vietnam, El Salvador, and the Philippines. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography in 1987. Now he is an assistant professor for multimedia at San Jose State University, his undergraduate alma mater.     

Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical Mediation Analysis in the New Millennium

The relative effectiveness of visualization and verbalization as mediators of thought was investigated in two experiments. It was found that when subjects were required to pass on verbal instructions, they performed better in the presence of a visual referent. Subjects who were required to overtly visualize (draw) during a discrimination learning task performed as well on a subsequent transposition task as subjects who were required to overtly verbalize (talk). Both groups performed better than a control group which was not required to overtly visualize or verbalize.     

LIVING TEXTBOOK on the INTERNET: A Call to Collaborate

ABSTRACT

The urgency to develop a world wide information system, replacing existing books and journals, is demonstrated. Its contents can be changed, commented and updated by everyone, under certain restrictions, and is therefore called a “LIVING TEXTBOOK.” According to the interest of the reader non-relevant information can be screened off. He can immediately find out what has already been done in a particular subject. The refereeing system becomes more democratic: The reader can choose the judgement of the referee of his choice.     

The two faces of Jimmy Carter: The transformation of a presidential debater, 1976 and 1980

Brydon offers a rhetorical analysis and evaluation of Jimmy Carter's debating in two elections. He concludes that Carter reversed his strategies between the two elections, attacking in 1976 but relying upon his incumbency in 1980. The findings indicate that presidential debates are ill‐suited to strategies which rely upon symbols of incumbency.     

Using The King of Queens to Illustrate the Implications of Attribution Formation in Interpersonal Relationships

Objective: To illustrate the implications of attribution formation in interpersonal relationships

Courses: Interpersonal Communication, Communication Theory

Time required: Approximately 30 minutes

Materials needed: An episode of The King of Queens     

Report on Modern Greek Studies Association Conference,Chicago, November 3–5, 2005

ABSTRACT

The author details library and archival panels related to Modern Greece held at the November 2005 biennial conference of the Modern Greek Studies Association (MGSA). He also summarizes several scholarly panels on linguistic and historical topics presented at this conference.     

What Would You Like Earth's Largest Library to Be?

Abstract

A college librarian reflects on the role of libraries and how they address local needs in the age of electronic library collections. He explores the question of whether a conglomeration of all books ever published can replace collections developed by librarians who know their patron base.     

Rediscovering Dr. Arthur S. Beardsley: A Brief Introduction to His Life and Work

ABSTRACT

Arthur Beardsley was one of the early giants of academic law librarianship. He developed one of the great law libraries in the country and began the process that would develop the University of Washington law library into the cradle of law library directors.     

Inordinate Fondness

Abstract

The Reference Librarian is delighted to wel come the sage of government documents as a regular columnist. Joe Morehead has the rare combination of wisdom, knowledge and wit so rarely found in the library world He is by now an institution, and about as well known and respected as anyone involved with the finer points of teaching. And for those who are unfamiliar with Joe, the following will serve as background: Morehead is the author of Introduction to United States Government Information Sources (Libraries Unlimited, 1996), now in its 5th edition. He has contributed articles and columns to several professional journals, among them RQ, the Journal of Government Information, Government Information Quarterly, The Serials Librarian, and Documents to the People. He was the 1996 recipient of the Isadore Gilbert Mudge-R.R. Bowker Award given by the Reference and Adult Services Division of the American Library Association.     

Metadata Dreaming

ABSTRACT

The author presents the state of metadata schemes today and discusses the idea of a “third way” between free-text searching and full cataloguing. He concludes that there is no such compromise and suggests that metadata schemes will have to incorporate controlled vocabularies and detailed designators if they are to progress, thus leading to a confluence that will be, in essence, a new form of traditional cataloguing.     

Moscow Publishing and Book Trade: Current State and Problems

ABSTRACT

The author, head of the National Bibliography Department at the Russian Book Chamber, discusses publishing and the book trade in Moscow and Russia in general. He breaks the output for 2004 down by subject and provides statistics for number of titles, print run, wholesale price, and retail price.     

Ronald Reagan's economic jeremiad

Ronald Reagan's address to the nation on February 5, 1981, concerning the state of the economy is a contemporary secular version of the jeremiad, a rhetorical form that has persisted in America since colonial times. Reagan skillfully utilizes the elements of the jeremiad genre to motivate citizen and congressional response to what he views as an economic crisis. He is adept in lamenting ills and faults, vividly depicting potential calamity, exhorting repentance and reform, and declaring optimism.     

Public Services Education for Archivists

Abstract

Is the public service ethos of archivists lacking, and what can be done about it in archival education programs? The author examines these questions in the light of the education guidelines issued by professional associations in the United States and Canada. He discusses the place of public services education in the larger context of professional formation of archivists, and in particular in relation to the principles guiding archivists in their service to the public. He then sketches the scope of public services, and analyzes the objectives, content, and methodologies of a course on the subject. In a final section, he looks at the question of students' conduct of research on the subject. He argues that supposed weaknesses of the archival service ethic can best be overcome and the peculiar difficulties archivists face in rendering reference and public services can best be addressed in a single course in the context of a program of study such as is called for by the Society of American Archivists and the Association of Canadian Archivists.     

Case Studies in Electronic Serials Cataloging,or What Am I Supposed to Do with This?

SUMMARY

Shadle examined the CONSER recommended aggregator-neutral record, providing background on its development, as well as examples and discussion of records demonstrating the changes that are underway. He also included a brief discussion on electronic serials and integrating resources, with examples that served to clarify their differences. Lastly, there was discussion on title changes and buried title changes as they might appear in electronic serials, with suggestions on ways to most effectively handle them.     

Employee attitudes toward the broadcasting industry: A report from the APBE‐NAB employment study

A 1965 Journal article by James W. Carey, “Variations in Negro/White Television Preferences,”; aroused considerable discussion when it appeared. The following article is on a similar topic, using a different sample. Alan D. Fletcher earned his Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Illinois; this article is based on a section of his dissertation. He presently is associate professor of marketing at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois.