ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


283

an analysis should be made in each case 
since no absolute rule or guideline can be 
established. In most cases, centralized pro­
cessing and acquisitions will prove most 
economical.
The holdings of a library system, includ­
ing those of branch libraries, should be 
listed in union catalogs and other access 
points to the collections, and be open to 
the library’s general community. Branch 
users should have access to the files of the 
branch’s holdings, union lists and other 
similar records produced by the library 
system in the branch.

Services
Branch libraries should maintain the same 
standards of service, but not necessarily 
the same services, as the main library with 
respect to access, staffing, assistance to 
users and adequacy of physical facilities. 
To this end—

Branch services, including circulation 
privileges, should be available to the to­
tal academic community at hours con­
venient to the users. Delivery and pho­
tocopy services are encouraged to pro­
vide maximum accessibility to and utili­
zation of the materials.
Competent staffing should be provided 
to insure the proper development and 
use of the library’s collection. The staff 
is a primary link between the communi­
ty’s needs and the library’s collections. 
The quality of branch services depends 
on its responsiveness to its user’s needs. 
I t is essential that the intended users of 
the branch be consulted periodically to 
advise the branch on developing and 
evaluating its services.

Reprints of this article are available, upon re­
quest, from the A C R L  Office, 50 E. Huron St., 
Chicago, IL  60611. ■■

Committee Appointed to Write Quantitative 
Standards for “Guidelines for Two-Year

College Learning Resources Programs”

The Association of College and Research Li­
braries announces the appointment of a com­
mittee to develop quantitative standards to sup­
plement the “Guidelines for Two-Year College 
Learning Resources Programs.”

William J. Hoffman, dean of educational re­
sources and library services at Mt. San Antonio 
College, Walnut, California, will chair the com­
mittee. Other members of the committee are: 
Imogene I. Book, director of the library at Rend 
Lake College, Ina, Illinois; Glenn R. Dallman, 
director of library services at St. Petersburg 
Junior College, Clearwater, Florida; Harriett 
Genung, Upland, California; Leah K. Nekritz, 
director of learning resources at Prince George’s 
Community College, Largo, Maryland; Robert 
F. Schremser, head librarian at Alexander City 
State Junior College, Alexander City, Alabama; 
and Fleming A. Thomas, chairman of the Divi­
sion of Learning Resources at Burlington Coun­
ty College, Pemberton, New Jersey. Dr. Sarah 
K. Thomson, chairman of the Library and 
Learning Resources D epartm ent at Bergen 
Community College, Paramus, New Jersey, will 
serve as consultant to the committee.

The “Guidelines for Two-Year College 
Learning Resources Programs” were approved 
as ACRL policy in June 1972. They supersede 
and replace the “Standards for Junior College

Libraries” adopted by the association in May 
1960. The “Guidelines” were prepared by a 
joint committee of members from the American 
Association of Community and Junior Colleges, 
the Association for Educational Communica­
tions and Technology, and the Association of 
College and Research Libraries.

The “Guidelines for Two-Year College 
Learning Resources Programs” are diagnostic 
and descriptive in nature. They offer an institu­
tion criteria for self-study and planning. The 
quantitative supplement now being prepared 
will provide a means for assessing the adequacy 
of the learning resources program. W hen the 
supplement is completed, the standards for 
two-year programs will contain both qualitative 
and quantitative elements.

The committee will meet during th e Amer­
ican Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, 
January 18-24, 1975, in Chicago. Prior to the 
meeting, it will examine all of the existing 
quantitative statements relating to two-year col­
leges and learning resources centers. The com­
mittee requests that education agencies and 
state, regional, and national professional asso­
ciations which have prepared quantitative stan­
dards send a single copy of their standards to 
the Association of College and Research Librar­
ies, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. ■■