Describes a Junior High School project which began as a class project, a children's library story-theater using short plays with familiar storybook and contemporary characters, and original music. Students were involved in all stages of production and performance. (JMF)

Describes a week-long library skills unit for disadvantaged high school students, noting that much of the success of the program rests in the use of a library usage game--in which students are pitted against the staff--at the end of the unit. Describes the game in detail. (GT)

Discusses philosophical issues and human elements in reference desk scheduling for public and academic libraries, highlighting institutionalization of a desk scheduling policy, the relationship between scheduler and schedulee (impartiality, consistency, flexibility, collegiality, diplomacy, dedication to reference service), and conflict management…

Argues that unless issues of machine help and human help are given explicit attention by the library profession, the disappearance of human help in patron assistance without input is likely. Discusses convergent commercial- and academic-sector trends, implications for the profession, and three policy alternatives. Presents a patron self-help…

This document is a compilation of state laws relating to Michigan libraries, intended as a tool for library managers and as an expression of continued commitment to strengthening library services throughout the state. It reprints legislation directly related to libraries of all levels, including: library networks; regional libraries: district…

This publication consists of a set of case studies of quality assurance practices in distance teaching universities. The case studies are particularly relevant at a time when universities in many parts of the world, both new and established distance teaching universities, are placing great emphasis on reviewing and revising what they do in…

This manual for volunteers begins with a brief introduction to Arizona's Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which is one of 56 libraries appointed by the Librarian of Congress to provide public library service to persons with visual or physical impairments. Introductory materials include explanations of the general policies and…

This report is the result of a task force's examination of factors that promote or discourage access to public libraries, i.e., economic, educational, social, attitudinal, physical, and geographical factors. It begins by identifying the seven issues that the study focused on: (1) what makes a person feel welcome and comfortable in a public…

A 3-year project to generate awareness and utilization of the nontraditional services offered by the Florida public libraries is described. The presentation is divided into two sections: an overview of the program to date and examples from the media campaign. Within section 1, three distinct phases of the project are identified and described:…

Based on the concept that library use measurement should have as its basic starting point the individual patron, a method of data collection and analysis has been developed that explores individual patterns of borrowing over time. The method accounts for the number of visits on which borrowing takes place, number of items borrowed per visit, and…

Designed for parents of preschoolers, this monthly bilingual (English/Spanish) newsletter contains information on local library programs, games and activities to play at home, reading readiness, and recommended books for preschoolers. A feature on disabled children includes a description of the library's special needs collection and a letter to…

Suggestions for improving school library and media services are offered by elementary school media staff in the Sacramento (California) area. This manual consists of one-page reference sheets for each school that responded to a request to share helpful ideas on media services. In addition to a helpful idea or ideas, each sheet includes the name of…

This manual contains basic information about the Bibliographic Instruction Section (BIS) of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). As of November 1984, BIS membership was approaching 3,000 with nearly 100 members actively involved in the section's committees. Following an introduction that describes the development of the BIS,…

The first section of this manual provides background on storytelling and the importance of storytelling for children, describes the essential elements of the storytelling process, and discusses the place of storytelling in the schools. Language arts and creative skills developed by storytelling are also identified. Guidelines for choosing a story,…

Based on information collected from a survey of selected state library agencies, this booklet describes the governance, funding, membership criteria, and services of library systems in Illinois, New York, California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Connecticut. An overview of the development of multitype library systems and definitions of…