Discusses gradual emergence of reference service in today's liberal arts college libraries through a century of changes in the liberal arts curriculum, in teaching methods, faculty attitudes toward librarians, library facilities, and research tools. The relatively recent acceptance of reference service has obscured difficulties early proponents…

The pathfinder format (which includes topic definitions, subject headings, classification numbers, introductory sources, reference works, and documents) is used in teaching reference work in specific subject areas. (LS)

Reports on a study of the effect of small-group, active-learning approaches to bibliographic instruction and psychological type on learning and confidence. No significant relationship was found between students' scores and teaching method or psychological type. A significant relationship was found between knowledge scores and the librarian…

Reports on a survey of 232 social science and humanities faculty served by a Canadian university library. Findings confirm that faculty across all disciplines surveyed recognize the importance of bibliographic instruction (BI). Significant differences among departments in the types of BI preferred were revealed. A copy of the survey is appended.…

Discusses the library's role in teaching users the skills that will help them learn from their reading. (FM)

Term paper bibliographies were independently examined and rated by a librarian and a writing instructor. Students receiving bibliographic instruction in classes that taught a cognitive strategy for using library resources did a better job of accessing and using library resources than those whose instruction emphasized specific tools and resources.…

A survey of 148 library and information science (LIS) educators determined that electronic information resources in LIS curricula have been integrated into basic and advanced reference courses: Internet resources were covered by 81% and Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) online union catalog by 53%. Lecture, demonstration, and hands-on practice…

Describes a course which provides students with hands-on experience at a computer terminal, and includes segments on how to conduct a reference interview using counseling techniques, how to evaluate and select information retrieval services and equipment, and discusses the impact of computerized information retrieval on libraries. (JAB)

Reviews controversies over different conceptions of critical thinking and its application to education. Discusses the relevance to and impact of critical thinking on bibliographic instruction. (JKP)