Some questions persist about academic libraries and knowledge. This paper addresses them and suggests that social epistemology helps provide some answers to them. The library, defined broadly, plays an integral role in the goal of knowledge growth and the possibilities for it in the institutional context are explored.

Explores aspects of information retrieval complexity, specifically the demands on users and information systems, using a proposed query as an example. Discusses previous writings on subject access, search strategies and retrieval potential, and classification as a retrieval tool. An appendix shows the subject headings assigned to books in a…

Describes a study that was conducted to examine the utility of "Books for College Libraries, 3rd Ed." (BCL3) as a collection development and evaluation tool for academic libraries. Holdings of sample titles from BCL3 in the OCLC Online Union Catalog are examined, and the in-print status of titles is investigated. (11 references) (LRW)

Asserts that, although many arguments in favor of user fees for library services are based on economics, little economic benefit is actually gained by levying charges for some services. A microeconomics model that has been used to demonstrate the benefits of user fees is critiqued, and the issue of accountability is discussed. (23 references) (CLB)

Explores the relationship between collection development and the system of scholarly communication in academic libraries. Ownership of versus access to information is discussed; use-based criteria are considered; and strategies for collection development in a networked electronic system are presented. (Contains 17 references.) (LRW)