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Researchers, subject specialists, and information professionals have long been aware of scientific and technical (sci‐tech) dictionaries available from the U.S. government. Yet these reference sources often remain invisible to the general public, especially in libraries that exclude government documents from the main catalog or that maintain separate documents collections. However, as more libraries automate their holdings and load cataloging records for government publications into their online public access catalogs (OPACs), government documents should become more visible. Until then, it may surprise some to learn that many U.S. government agencies have allocated vast resources into compiling, publishing, and updating technical dictionaries in print, microfiche, and electronic format.

Open‐ended interviews with bibliographers and the Assistant Director of Collection Development at the University of Miami (Florida) Richter Library reveal personal attributes and philosophies that may affect collection development decision making. These attributes may include one or more of the following: 1) subject expertise gained through a master's degree or prior work experience; 2) a strong commitment to serving the teaching and research needs of the faculty; 3) active participation in professional associations in the field for which the librarian selects materials; 4) frequent contact with the faculty and departmental book selectors; and 5) participation in research in the specialty area, e.g., publication of articles in scholarly journals or presentation of papers at meetings. This study suggests the need for more empirical data based on a large, representative sample.