The University of California Libraries: A Plan for Development (1977)

PREFACE
The first draft of the plan for development of the University of
California libraries was distributed in November 1976 for review within
the University. Comments were received from all campuses--from individual
faculty, students, and staff members, as well as from campus and library
administrators.
As discussed in Chapter I, policies and guidelines for the University's
library system have been in a process of development for the last several
years. In the spring of 1976, a general planning document entitled The
University of California Libraries: Problems and Prospects was approved
as an internal working paper that identified systemwide policies on which
there was general agreement and suggested avenues of investigation toward
solution of the libraries' more pressing problems. It was obvious to all
concerned, however, that specific recommendations, with costs and implementation
dates, could not be made without the collection of much more
comprehensive data on the libraries and their problems, and intensive study
of possible solutions.
The accomplishment of this data-gathering and research has been the
task of dozens of individuals during the past year. Donald D. Thompson,
Assistant to the Executive Director of Library Planning, led a team which
did the bulk of the data-gathering and performed a major research study of
library space problems. In the process, the team produced a computerized
simulation model that not only facilitates statistical analysis of the
University's space problems but should also assist other research libraries
in performing the same task. Gary Lawrence programmed the model as well as
assisting Thompson in its design. Richard King researched many of the components
of the library space problems. Burke Conley investigated various
methods of compact shelving, and Cynthia Rimbach analyzed the possible
impact of microforms.
Michael Berger, Manager of Bibliographic Projects, and Bruce D'Ambrosio
performed the major research on the feasibility of the on-line catalog and
other automation projects discussed in Chapter V. Bill Harrelson investi-
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