Press Release Ann Okerson 02 Feb 1993 02:08 UTC
1 February 1993 NEW STUDY ADDRESSES THE ECONOMICS OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Association of Research Libraries announce the publication of a major study of the economics of research libraries. *University Libraries and Scholarly Communication* addresses the present and future of scholarly communication and surveys the "library landscape ... in its collecting, operating, financial, and electronic dimensions." Reflecting the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's long-standing commitment to support the evolution of research libraries, the study provides careful analysis of trends in such key variables as the volume of acquisitions, the worldwide pool of publications from which such acquisitions were made, prices of monographs and journals, and library expenditures. Using data from 24 major research libraries in the United States, *University Libraries and Scholarly Communication* examines these trends. The study appears at a pivotal point in the evolution of research libraries. The explosion in the quantity of desirable published material and a rapid escalation of unit prices for those items are jeopardizing the traditional library research mission of creating and maintaining large self-sufficient collections for their clientele. At the same time, the rapid emergence and development of electronic information technologies make it possible to envision different ways of organizing collections and services the library has traditionally provided. *University Libraries and Scholarly Communication* provides extensive analysis of these two critical issues confronting research libraries today, calling for circumspection and a view beyond short-term management as an effective strategy for addressing these critical issues. The study was prepared for The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation by Anthony M. Cummings, Marcia L. Witte, William G. Bowen, Laura O. Lazarus, and Richard H. Ekman and published and distributed by the Association of Research Libraries. *University Libraries and Scholarly Communication* is available for $8.00 per copy, which covers shipping and handling. Prepaid orders should be sent to the Association of Research Libraires (ARL), Publications Department, Dept. #0692, Washington, DC 20073-0692. For information about special rates for multiple orders, contact Gloria Haws (202-232-8656). The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) represents the interests of the 120 libraries that serve major North American research institutions. ARL operates as a forum for the exchange of ideas and as an agent for collective action to influence the forces affecting the ability of these libraries to meet the future needs of scholarship. Members include large university libraries, the national libraries of the United States and Canada, and a number of public and independent libraries with substantial research collections.