Scholarly Works, University Libraries

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Research articles, presentations, and other scholarship

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Determination of Unit Costs for Library Services
Nachlas, Joel A.; Pierce, Anthony R. (ACRL Publications, 1979-05-01)
As with other public service activities, inflationary trends and public opinion provide a clear mandate for attempts to control the increasing costs of providing library services. Cost control necessarily requires knowledge of the quantities and sources of costs. A methodology; known as microcosting, for identifying the unit costs of providing specific services is presented here. The method is designed to enable library managers to identify at a detailed level the resources consumed in providing a particular service. This information provides''a quantitative basis for and a monitor of library management decisions. To illustrate the use of the methodology, it is applied to the determination of the unit costs of tracking overdue materials at a major university library.
The Availability of Cataloging copy in the OCLC Database
Metz, Paul; Espley, John (ACRL Publications, 1980-09)
A sixteen-week longitudinal study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of OCLC as a source of cataloging data and to optimize the timing of searches for cataloging copy for various categories of materials. The findings indicated a high rate of success and, further, suggested that for many types of materials a holding pattern might be unnecessary. A midsized research library should be able to clear about half of its monographic receipts immediately, if it is willing to accept CIP copy. For materials not searched immediately, or for subsequent searches of materials not cataloged at once, the data may be used to determine the best timing and frequency of searches.
A proposed staffing formula for Virginia academic libraries
Metz, Paul; Scott, Elizabeth A. (ACRL Publications, 1981-03)
Formulas and standards play a needed role in the allocation of library resources, but it is difficult to devise formulas that accurately reflect the various factors that shape a library's needs. This report summarizes the means by which a subcommittee of the Virginia Library Advisory Committee devised a proposed staffing formula for its academic libraries. The subcommittee charged with devising a new formula reviewed past efforts as a means of determining criteria any new formula should meet . Based on this review and on its own research, the committee devised a draft formula , which is discussed.
The impact of user frustration on humanities research
Wilson, Kathryn B.; Eustis, Joanne D. (ACRL Publications, 1981-07)
User Response to and Knowledge about an Online Catalog
Steinberg, David; Metz, Paul (ACRL Publications, 1984-01)
Thinking Big: A Commentary on the Research Agenda in Academic Librarianship
Metz, Paul (ACRL Publications, 1985-09)
Library-related research has not fully realized its potential, in part because of its narrow focus. A perspective that approaches the academic library from the patron's point of view may lead to better results. Fundamental questions with broad policy implications remain to be asked about our collections and their use, about costs, and about both the academic setting itself and the people who work within it.
How Institutions Think (Book Review)
Metz, Paul (ACRL, 1987-07)
A book review of “How Institutions Think” by Mary Tew Douglas.
Measuring collections use at Virginia Tech
Metz, Paul; Litchfield, Charles A. (ACRL Publications, 1988-11)
This study of the Virginia Tech Library collections brings together data on circulation and inhouse use, including that of current periodicals, to assess differences according to kinds of use, variations in measurement technique, and time period. Use of current periodicals is found to be both large and qualitatively different from other kinds of use. Differences between circulation and in-house use are discussed. Despite these differences, circulation and in-house use are generally similar in their subject distribution. The subject distribution of circulation patterns is remarkably stable over time, and can be reliably assessed using short sampling periods.
A social history of madness or, who's buying this round - anticipating and avoiding gaps in collection development
Metz, Paul; Foltin, Bela (ACRL Publications, 1990-01)
Both the internal organization of collection development and the nature of science and scholarship lead to inevitable gaps in collection development. The discussion identifies both nondisciplinary and interdisciplinary areas especially vulnerable to such oversight and suggests remedies to prevent the undue perpetuation of gaps.
Embracing the Electronic Journal: One Library's Plan
McMillan, Gail (Haworth Press, 1991)
The work of serialists is rarely static and now another exciting new challenge awaits us: the electronic journal. In this paper "electronic journals," also called e-journals, will mean any serials produced, published, and distributed nationally and internationally via electronic networks such as Bitnet and the Internet.' Electronic journals offer many potential benefits, including timely document delivery, direct links from online catalogs, less expensive subscription prices, and easy gathering of statistics on their use. They also pose new problems, such as: How does a library provide access? Does the library's computer have room for complete electronic journals without making sacrifices such as response time or implementation of new software? Who will archive these e-journals and how will this be accomplished? From the point of view of the medium-sized, academic research library at Virginia Tech, the electronic journal is seen as another technological advancement to be incorporated into the collection of information sources already available from the library. Considering its mission, resources, and users, University Libraries has decided on a "near-term" approach to electronic journal access for the community we serve.
The Haven of the Monastery and the Harvest of Souls: Monasticism and Missions according to Gregory the Great
Potter, Peter J. (1991-05-01)
Monasticism and missions, at first glance, would seem to have little to do with one another. Monasticism is characterized by a life of contemplation, carried out in withdrawal from the activities of the world. Mission, on the other hand, requires that a missionary go into the world and actively bring the message of truth and salvation to those who are outside the faith. Despite the apparent differences, contemplation and action were not seen as incompatible in the early Middle Ages, and one figure in particular is especially notable for his attempt to unite the two—Gregory the Great. Gregory’s famous reluctance to leave behind the monastery for active service in the Church stands firmly beside his longing to see the Church actively preach the faith in England. This thesis examines Gregory’s own thinking about contemplation and monastic piety, on the one hand, and the wider concerns of social responsibility, on the other. In particular, it shows that, in the course of his struggle to reconcile the two within himself, Gregory fashioned an image of the ideal saint who successfully accomplished what he himself could only struggle to do.
Serials pricing and the role of the electronic journal
Metz, Paul; Gherman, Paul M. (ACRL Publications, 1991-07)
The rapid escalation of serials prices is a serious threat to the system of scientific and scholarly communication. The growth of science, the increase in commercial publishing, and the inherent monopolies enjoyed by journals help account for this problem. Changes in academic reward structures and cooperative action by librarians, individual scientists and scholars, scholarly societies, and university presses are needed. The electronic journal may have a powerful role to play in combating serials inflation if its evolution is shaped thoughtfully and by the right hands.
Technical Processing of Electronic Journals
McMillan, Gail (Gale, 1992)
Electronic journals portend tremendous advantages to libraries. Patron access is swift and sure; these journals are never missing from the shelves, and they need not be delayed for technical processing because they can be "sent" to public display and to serials maintenance almost simultaneously. However, how will library users know what journals are available to them? They should be able to find electronic journals through the same means they find information in all other formats—through libraries’ online catalogs. The phrase “mark it and park it” has not lost it relevance in the virtual library environment.
Saints and Their Miracles in Late Antique Gaul (review)
Potter, Peter J. (1995)
A dozen years have passed since the publication of Peter Brown's The Cult of the Saints. Brown's book, of course, has been enormously influential in reviving scholars' interest in saints' cults and relics in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. And yet Brown called The Cult of the Saints an "essay in interpretation" and noted that he "left many books on the cult of the saints in late antiquity yet to be written." With this in mind, it is enlightening to read Raymond Van Dam's Saints and Their Miracles in Late Antique Gaul with a copy of The Cult of the Saints close at hand. As one would expect, Van Dam readily acknowledges the importance of Brown's work. But what is perhaps more interesting is to consider (and marvel at) just how far the study of saints' cults has advanced in the twelve years since the publication of Brown's book...
A New Service from Libraries: Electronic Publishing
McMillan, Gail (Association of College and Research Libraries, 1995)
Libraries are continuously improving traditional services but now they are also responding to stringent economic times by producing and distributing information electronically. Publishing electronic journals, distributing pre-publication abstracts, digitizing images, incorporating hyperlinks between and within documents and databases, and providing online access to local news are some of the innovative services academic libraries have begun to provide. This paper describes how one library addressed the challenges and took advantage of opportunities and readily available new technologies to meet the information needs of their future remote clients as well as their current local patrons.
Scholarly Communications Project: Publishers and Libraries
McMillan, Gail (Association of Research Libraries, 1995-01)
When the Scholarly Communications Project was getting underway in 1989, the founding director, Lon Savage, envisioned a pioneering effort: exploration of new means of scholarly communications and ways to reduce costly distribution of print publications normally done through commercial publishers. Paul Gherman, University Librarian at Virginia Tech when the Project began, felt strongly that such a project belonged in the library; that it would be an opportunity for library staff to get involved in a new publishing medium that increasingly would be integral to the library's mission. Thus, the Project director, who often refers to himself as "an old newspaper man" and who is not a librarian, was very concerned about publishers' interests, while the librarian looked at electronic publishing as a way for libraries to use new technology to keep their services meeting the current information needs of their patrons. Since the Scholarly Communications Project moved into the library in 1991, the founding director has retired, leaving a flourishing enterprise. The first electronic-only journal has been joined by four print-also journals, abstracts for two additional journals, two research databases, two experimental digital image collections, an experiment in providing access to television news, a regional newspaper, and the university faculty/ staff newspaper. Thus, the activities of the Project have placed the library directly into the information provider's role, improving the level of services the library offers...
A reputational study of academic publishers
Metz, Paul; Stemmer, John (ACRL Publications, 1996-05)
In both selecting individual titles and designing gathering plans, collection development librarians are strongly influenced by the perceptions they have about publishers. In the near absence of data that might indicate the overall perceptions the collection development community has about academic publishers, the authors distributed a reputational assessment survey to a national sample of heads of collection development in academic libraries. The resulting data on perceptions of the quality and academic relevance of selected publishers' monographs are reported and analyzed.
Conference Highlights: 3rd International Symposium on ETDs
McMillan, Gail (Virginia Tech, 2000-03-18)
Conference highlights according to Gail McMillan
Open Archives Initiative
McMillan, Gail (2000-06-01)
This presentation, which was given at the annual meeting of the Society of Scholarly Publishing on June 1, 2000, describes the Open Archives Initiative (OAI), a protocol for exchanging content between digital repositories. The presentation outlines OAI's history, core components, key stakeholders, and ongoing developments.
Building a comprehensive serials decision database at Virginia Tech
Metz, Paul; Cosgriff, John C. Jr. (ACRL Publications, 2000-07)
Although for many years academic libraries have relied on data on cost, library use, or citations to inform collection development decisions respecting serials, they have not fully exploited the possibilities for compiling numerous measures into comprehensive databases for decision support. The authors discuss the procedures used and the advantages realized from an effort to build such a resource at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), where the available data included the results of a zero-based faculty survey of serials needs.

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