Designed to examine current research library practices and policies and serve as resource guides for libraries as they face ever-changing management problems, each SPEC Kit contains a summary analysis, survey questions with tallies, pertinent documentation from participating libraries, and a reading list and Web site references for further information on the topic. ARL/OLMS published the following six SPEC Kits in fall 2002. The tables of contents and executive summaries are available online at http://www.arl.org/spec/speclist.html.
This survey documents how ARL member libraries are collecting, analyzing, and using their reference service statistics, revealing strong dissatisfaction with current assessment techniques. It is hoped that the survey will inspire libraries, librarians, and library associations to devote the necessary resources to developing innovative, efficient, and effective procedures that can be widely adopted. Eric Novotny. September 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 142 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
This survey explores to what extent preservation activities have, in fact, been integrated into research library operations by examining the many facets of mature preservation programs and determining how much activity takes place within, and how much outside, the purview of preservation departments. Karen Brown and Emily Holmes. October 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 144 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
Core competencies are the skills, knowledge, abilities, and attributes that employees across an organization are expected to have or achieve so that they can contribute successfully within a particular organizational context. This survey examines whether research libraries are defining or adopting core competencies and how they are integrating them into recruitment, staff development, evaluation, and compensation programs. Beth McNeil. October 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 128 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
The past decade has seen dramatic changes in information technology, library services, staff responsibilities, and organizational efforts to manage these changes. Through this survey the investigators document the changes in research library systems operations since 1994--when ARL last surveyed its members about the organization of the library systems office--and identify future trends. Scott P. Muir and Adriene Lim. November 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 128 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
Risk management in research libraries has gained increasing attention in recent years. The role of the institutional risk manager has expanded, often impacting the business processes of the library. This survey investigates a variety of methods used to value and insure research library collections. It informs librarians for discussing these issues with administrative officers and risk management staff. Susan K. Martin. December 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 88 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
ARL reported on electronic (primarily e-mail) reference in SPEC Kit 251, Electronic Reference Service, in 1999. Since then, many libraries have adopted interactive chat reference as a service delivery mode. This new survey gathered data on chat reference service in ARL member libraries. It provides assistance to libraries that are exploring or planning to initiate such a service. Jana Ronan and Carol Turner. December 2002. ISSN 0160-3582. 141 pages. $45 ($35 ARL members).
SPEC Kit Subscription (ISSN 0160-3582), 6 issues per year, shipping included. U.S. and Canada: $190 ARL member, $260 nonmember; International: $330.
Payment by check, money order, or MasterCard or Visa is accepted. Make check or money order payable in U.S. funds to the Association of Research Libraries, Federal ID #52-0784198-N.
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U.S.: UPS Ground, $10/publication Canada: UPS Ground, $15/per publication International and Rush Orders: Call (301) 362-8196 or e-mail pubs@arl.org for quote.
To subscribe or order individual SPEC Kits, contact:
ARL Publications Distribution Center P.O. Box 531 Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0531 Phone: (301) 362-8196 Fax: (301) 206-9789 E-mail: pubs@arl.org Web: http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/pubsorderform.shtml
"New SPEC Kits from ARL/OLMS" ARL, no. 226 (February 2003): 14. http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/br/br226/br226spec.shtml.