Reports on the American Library Association's efforts to update the Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials (DCRM). Describes topics of working groups that include transcription of early letter forms, rare book cataloging of machine-press books, collection-level cataloging, problems and lacunae, and varieties of editions and issues and when to…

Presents an overview of the developments and dilemmas related to the cataloging and classification of maps, addressing the areas of online library systems, cooperative cataloging, descriptive cataloging, subject access, and the improvement of network capabilities. Seventeen references are cited. (FM)

Discusses the quality of cataloging in bibliographic control based on experiences at the Library of Congress. Highlights include the down side of quality and quality review, copy cataloging, CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials), NCCP (National Coordinated Cataloging Program) and PCC (Program for Cooperative Cataloging), minimal-level cataloging,…

Examines the role that the public library plays as a center for community activities, as a civic building, and as a representative of government. Examples of these roles in California communities are given, and sources of income and funding problems are addressed. (Contains 10 references.) (LRW)

Describes how experts create and use "bundles"--organized, highly selective collections of information--to help solve problems and maintain situation awareness. Based on fieldwork in an intensive care unit, five examples of bundles are described that illustrate the variety of bundles in use. A summary of bundle properties is given. (AEF)

Provides a history of the establishment of the AFL-CIO/ALA (American Federation of Labor (AFL)-Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)/American Library Association (ALA)) Joint Committee on Library Service to Labor Groups. Topics include public learning, labor, and libraries; services to labor; problems and issues, including conflicts between…

Discusses unethical practices of authors, editors, and reviewers of scholarly journals, including problems related to coauthorship, data sharing, and underreporting; ethical responsibilities of editors; ethics of peer review; and suggestions for eliminating or limiting unethical practices, such as more explicit guidelines for journals and better…

Discusses the possible ethical conflicts when librarians serve on the governing bodies and/or committees of regional, state, or national professional associations and issues arise that could impact their own institutions. Several case studies are presented that examine issues librarians face when engaged in an expanded professional role. (LRW)

Examines changes in disciplinary identity demonstrated in the discourse of several Internet discussion groups and suggests the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address digital storage and retrieval problems. Highlights include the culture of intellectual disciplines and the organization of knowledge; the culture of the Internet; and…

Presents information on deafness and deaf people that is helpful to librarians communicating with deaf patrons. Communication modes and preferences are discussed, including speaking and facial expression, speech reading, lipreading, and sign language; and methods of optimizing conditions for good communication are described. (11 references) (LRW)

Examines moral, legal, and professional arguments for the protection of a library patron's privacy; gives examples of confidentiality challenges; and concludes that librarians should lobby for legal recognition of librarian/patron privilege of confidentiality. Computer technology and privacy are discussed, and the American Library Association…

Discusses ethical issues that relate to law librarianship. Topics addressed include the need to dispense understandable, timely, relevant, complete, and appropriate information; engaging in the actual practice of law; relationships between law librarians and vendors and publishers; and the code of ethics of the American Association of Law…

Discusses problems that libraries are encountering with technological advancements in information technology, resulting in changes in the ways people interact with data and information. Topics include canceling print materials to save money and relying on electronic resources; quality and quantity of online material; user fees; inappropriate…

This discussion of the problem of funding college and university media centers outlines the general categories of available support, assesses current prospects of attracting funds for instructional technology in higher education, and explores the implications that a media center poses for a library's internal budget policy. Twenty-nine references…

This assessment of the library profession's response to technological innovation focuses on the handling of nonprint collections. Highlights include definition of nonprint materials; basic considerations in conservation and environmental concerns (temperature, dust, light exposure); the problem of security and storage procedures; and circulation…