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.