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Special libraries are undergoing some fundamental changes which require redefinition of the competencies of information professionals. The contextual variables necessitate identification of competencies in relation to the peculiarities of a situation. Some methodological improvements were also attempted to arrive at a reliable body of knowledge and skill competencies. Fifty top and middle managers of the ten largest special libraries in Malaysia were interviewed to validate competencies by using a scale indicative of the perceived extent of importance of each competency. The validated competencies have been presented in the following six areas: foundation, cataloguing, circulation, information service, collection development and serial control. Capabilities to relate information facility to the organizational mission and profile, managerial competence, effective exploitation of information technology, subject expertise, and a great deal of emphasis on service aspect figure as the most important arsenal for the future information professionals.

When academic journals in electronic format were introduced, librarians eagerly anticipated a drop in wildly escalating journal prices. After all, publishers incur no paper costs, no mailing costs, and no significant additional production costs in distributing an electronic equivalent to their paper journals. However, to date, the crisis in rising serial costs has not been alleviated by the availability of electronic journals. Seven years after his first column discussing libraries' struggles with serial prices, the author revisits the topic of electronic journals and summarizes what we have learned about using journals in this format.

This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used titles which occupy a small amount of shelf space compared with titles occupying a large amount of shelf space. Density of use may favour the retention of low‐use titles possessing a high density of use compared with a high‐use title occupying a large amount of shelf space. While the paper presents an easy method for identifying titles possessing a high total use but having a comparatively low density of use, the strategy fails to identify titles having a high density of use but which also have some scope for partitioning between open and closed access. It therefore outlines a simple method of partitioning these titles between open and closed access to increase the density of use of the open access collection.

Describes the background and development of the migration to an electronic journal collection by the W.W. Hagerty Library of Drexel University, Philadelphia. Starting in 1998, this transition was a key component of the library’s strategic plan, and with a few exceptions, journals are purchased in electronic‐only format whenever possible. Drexel’s collection now consists of only 800 print subscriptions and 5,500 electronic journals. The transition has had a considerable impact on library staffing and workflow. Offsetting a decrease in the activity levels relating to the print format is a large increase in workload for serials’ acquisitions and management functions. A newly created position of electronic resources librarian acts as a focal point for the integrated development of all electronic resources.

Recently emerged Software as a Service (SaaS)‐based services show that it is possible to curtail cost on operation and maintenance and also to reduce additional expenses required for system upgrades. It also allows creating new values by consolidating resources of individual users on a provider's platform, which is effectively applicable to library networks for resource sharing. The aim of this study is to present a next‐generation SaaS‐based library management system and its operational model. In addition, the paper seeks to discuss the availability of knowledge‐based services for the system.

First, this study analyzes trends in open library environments, as well as issues in the operation of library management systems. Second, it examines differences between reference models of SaaS and those of ASP solutions, and case studies on recent applications of the approaches are also performed. Third, the study forecasts effects expected when the SaaS model will be fully applied to the library network. And finally, the study presents functional requirements and an operation model of SaaS‐based library management systems.

In this study a model of a SaaS‐based system which can apply library network is presented. The model is composed of: SaaS platform comprising application service layer, common service layer and service resources; network service platform to support information sharing between participating libraries and local libraries clients.

The SaaS‐based system will enhance the economic efficiency of local library operations and make available new functionalities on an on‐demand basis. Also, its feature, such as sharing a single platform among several libraries, facilitates resource sharing and knowledge‐based services.

The purpose of this paper is to examine Providence College's experience in organizing, creating, and implementing the library's collection management system.

The paper discusses the need for and the development of a collection management system to help make decisions regarding the cancellation and retention of periodical titles.

The collection management system provided the librarians with information required to integrate the periodicals collection. It allows the academic departments to manage the periodical titles in their respective areas and to make decisions about which periodical titles they would like the library to subscribe or to cancel. It allows the library to inventory the collection.

The paper provides insight into the integration of a collection management system and would be useful to those involved in that field who are looking to follow suit.