New OMS Publications

SPEC Kit #206, Faculty Organizations in ARL Libraries: Activities 
and Documents, contains information on the library faculty 
organization structure, function, and activities of the library 
faculty organizations in the 32 ARL institutions that offer 
librarians faculty status with tenure eligibility.  Included are 
an in-depth survey analysis, models of 14 library faculty 
organization bylaws and constitutions, and a useful selected 
readings list.

Occasional Paper #17, Information Desks in Academic Research 
Libraries (supplement to SPEC Kit #172), presents the placement, 
design, staffing, and function of information desks at eight ARL 
institutions.  Information desks are examined as a method of 
reducing routine inquiries presented to other library service 
points, counteracting the demands on librarians from the 
exponential growth of information resources, and offsetting 
decreased library budgets.

Individual SPEC Kits are $40 ($25 ARL members) and Occasional 
Papers are $25 ($18 ARL members).  Add $5 shipping and handling 
per publication.  For information on these and other OMS products, 
contact the Publications Department at (202) 296-2296 or e-mail 
arlhq@cni.org.  Send prepaid orders to ARL Publications, 
Department #0692, Washington, DC 20073-0692.



SPEC Changes

SPEC Surveys are now distributed electronically in a trial effort 
to speed up the survey process and to minimize costs by reducing 
staff time, and paper, photocopying, and postage costs.  SPEC 
Liaisons were surveyed prior to this change, and response was 
overwhelmingly positive.