Briefly Noted

Cataclysm and Challenge: Impact of September 11, 2001, on Our Nation's Cultural Heritage, Project Directed by Ruth Hargraves. Washington, DC: Heritage Preservation, 2002. 26 p. $5 postage charge for single copies (888-388-6789) Full text (PDF) online <www.heritagepreservation.org>

This comprehensive study of what was lost—both in Manhattan and at the Pentagon—on 9/11 also illustrates how institutions coped with the aftermath. 122 museums, libraries, and other archives were surveyed regarding emergency preparedness, and the findings urge that high priority be given to emergency plans, training, inventories, and off-site storage. (S.H.)

Recruitment, Retention, and Restructuring: Human Resources in Academic Libraries, Ad Hoc Task Force on Recruitment & Retention Issues of the ACRL Personnel Administrators and Staff Development Officers Discussion Group. May, 2002. 52 p. Full text (PDF) online <www.ala.org/acrl/recruit-wp.html>

This white paper's central question is "How can we competitively and successfully recruit and retain professionals needed in academic libraries?" The task force identified a wide range of strategies for each of the focus areas, giving special recognition to the retention of qualified and motivated employees. The report encourages library educators to read closely the suggestions about restructuring library education. Includes a nine-page annotated bibliography on recruitment and retention issues. (S.H.)

Digital Preservation and Metadata: History, Theory, Practice, Susan S. Lazinger. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 359 p. $55 paper (ISBN 1-56308-777-4)

The author outlines a strategy for digital archiving, including both those born-digital and products of analog-to-digital conversion. She considers selection criteria and the "features of integrity" that distinguish an electronic publication, and provides a thorough overview of hardware and software choices, cost considerations, and metadata formats for long-term digital archiving. Following a review of models and standards, two chapters profile selected U.S. and international data archives. (S.H.)

OCLC White Paper on the Information Habits of College Students. June, 2002. 10 p. Full text (PDF) online <www2.oclc.org/oclc/pdf/printondemand/informationhabits.pdf>

OCLC commissioned this nationwide study of 1,000+ 18- to 24-year old college students to determine the extent to which students rely on Web-based resources, particularly the degree to which they look to their campus library Web sites. Almost 80% of those surveyed use Internet search engines for "every" or "most" assignments, but respondents clearly value accuracy and convenience at the same time they continue to depend upon the library. The data point to ways librarians can provide access to and market information resources. (S.H.)