In this and subsequent issues you will find a selection of articles drawn from the titles from MCB University Press Limited published in the field of Library and Information Management. You are free to read, download and circulate the articles, although normal copyright rules apply. This issue continues the focus on change. Reading and travel overseas indicate that many experiences are common to academic communities around the globe, and there are changes at the macro level which impact on the services needed by the academic community.
Funding is a major issue.
In the UK the majority of the universities are publicly funded. By contrast with universities in North America, they have been slow to build up strong alumni associations that are concerned with fund raising to support the core income. Students are now expected to make a major contribution to their tuition costs. Living expenses on campus have risen. At the same time the ratio of students to staff has grown, and there is a focus on research as this generates additional departmental funding.