Atifa Rawan

Government Publications Integration and Training.

Abstract Appropriate training is a major factor in the success or failure of any government publications integration into the general reference collection. In August 1992 the government publications reference collection at the University of Arizona Main Library was integrated into the central reference collection. This paper will discuss the integration process, the training methods, the survey used to determine the success of the training program, and the perceptions of competence in providing government documents reference, the results of a focus group (consisting of both Central Reference Department and Government Documents Department staff) that explored the question of training, and an assessment of government documents training and recommendations for future training programs. In addition, the University of Arizona Library System is in the process of restructuring its functions and services. This article will discuss the relationship of this process to the integration project.

Living the Future Conferences: History, Philosophy, Planning, and Themes

ABSTRACT The University of Arizona Libraries planned and executed seven successful Living the Future conferences from 1996 to 2008. The conferences covered such themes as process improvement and organizational change, collaboration, future vision, partnerships, information literacy, new services and their impact on organizations, human resources, and other global issues. The focus of this article is on major themes and the history and philosophy of the conferences, with descriptions of the planners’ vision and participants’ experiences, success stories from the conferences, and the potential themes and needs for future Living the Future conferences.

Building State and Local Publications Collections: The Arizona Experience.

Abstract This article explains the patterns of distribution of state and local publications in Arizona libraries. Major academic, public, and county libraries were surveyed to determine scope and size of collections, access to bibliographic databases, cataloging and classification of holdings, and methods of acquisition. The results of this survey have enabled the authors to create the first comprehensive compilation of collection development policies for Arizona state and local publications, and to share that information with every major library in the state. The authors intend to use the results of the survey not only to inform Arizona librarians as to the sites of the core collections of state and local documents, but also to assist librarians in developing strategies for acquiring these publications; and to help formulate a depository distribution system for state publications.