ACRL College & Researc Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Fast Facts

Ann Viles

Outsourced library services included in "Best Practices"

— The “best practices” in distance education recently proposed by the Council of Regional Accrediting Commissions lists “library-related services” among its “current examples of consortial and contractual relationships.” Services that must be available for students “may include . . . library resources appropriate to the program, including, reference and research assistance; remote access to databases, online journals and full-text resources; document delivery services; library user and information literacy instruction, reserve materials; and institutional agreements with local libraries.”

"Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs," Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications. http://www.wiche.edu/telecom/Article1.htm. April 1, 2001

Electronic Ink

Kfcw— Electronic ink is a dark liquid dye containing white microcapsules, which can be controlled by an electric field. “To form an E Ink electronic display, the ink is printed onto a sheet of plastic film that is laminated to a layer of circuitry.” According to Electronic Ink Corporation, E Ink “retains the superior viewing characteristics of paper, including high contrast, wide viewing angle and bright paper-white background. . . . Electronic ink can be printed on almost any surface, from plastic to metal to paper. And it can be coated over large areas cheaply.”

"What Is Electronic Ink?" E Ink Corporation, http://www.eink.com/technology/index.htm. April 1, 2001

La Biblioteque Nationale's virtual library

The French national library has converted 87,000 books in its collection to a digital format and claims to have “the largest virtual library in the world.” "French National Library Sets '1% Digital' Target," Financial Times FT.com. http://globalarchive.ft.com/ globalarchive/articles.html?id=010319003302&query=French+national+library+. April 1, 2001

E-mail most popular Internet service

A transaction log analysis of Internet use in a British Columbia public library found 41% of sites accessed were e-mail service providers. In contrast, library and information services sites accounted for only 1% of the usage.

Ann Curry, "What Are Public Library Customers Viewing on the Internet?" Burnaby Public Library Internet Use Survey, http://www.bpl.burnaby.bc.ca/weblog.htm. April 1, 2001

Administrators salaries: 2000-2001

Median salaries for library administrators at all academic institutions currently range from $43,080 for acquisitions librarians to $63,228 for directors of library services. The median for directors at doctoral institutions is $111,999.

"Fact File: Median Salaries of College Administrators by Type of Institution, 2000-1," Chronicle of Higher Education, March 16, 2001: A32.

„X Internet use to triple by 2005

I A market research report by eTForecasts predicts the number of Internet users worldwide will reach 1.17 billion by the end of 2005; 62% will be using wireless devices.

("Internet Users Will Surpass 1 Billion in 2005," eTForecasts, Feb. 6, 2001. http://www.etforecasts.com/pr/ pr201.htm. April 1, 2001)

Ann Viles is coordinator of reference and instruction at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, e-mail: vilesea@conrad.appstate.edu