Volume 22, Issue 1

This paper constitutes a trial of a game- and decision-theory based approach that is intended to examine elements of the complexities of scholarly communication as an economic endeavor. Both individual and institutional kinds of games are analyzed in order to determine what factors would affect the real economic use of game and decision theories. There are interrelationships between the two kinds that add complexity to any possible application. Further, this analysis includes ideal and practical factors that affect real economic application. As is shown here, there are serious challenges to application of the theories, but also important indicators for the furtherance of individual and institutional interests by means of negotiation.

Given the budgetary and technological changes facing academic libraries, it has become necessary for librarians to become self-advocates, describing and defending the work they do. Most research in this area is dedicated to public services, with little focus on technical services. A survey conducted in the fall of 2009 found that catalogers in the sample state of New Jersey collect detailed productivity statistics to illustrate their value. This paper analyzes the statistics-gathering process and makes suggestions for developing these methods into a strong assessment model. Quality control assessment is the tool catalogers need to describe their worth to library stakeholders.