Argues that patrons in a publicly supported academic library come from the general community as well as from the university, and include children, adolescents, and business people. The importance of recognizing the needs of various user groups and budgetary and staff limitations are stressed along with setting future priorities. (28 references)…

Describes the use of paraprofessional library staff at Aurora Library (Colorado) to teach part of the bibliographic instruction sessions. Highlights include strategic planning, revising the library instruction program to incorporate reduction and still meet the students' educational needs, staff attitudes, and program evaluation and changes. (LRW)

Discusses first three steps of a general model for use in planning and implementing innovative programs in organizations: identifying problem, forming task force, finding out more about problems. Application and evaluation of model at large academic library to investigate receptivity of faculty to increased teaching activities by librarians is…

Discusses library reference services. Topics include the historical development of reference services; instruction in library use, particularly in college and university libraries; guidance; information and referral services and how they differ from traditional question-answering service; and future concerns, including user fees and the planning…

Briefly describes the elements of document delivery and provides an introduction to four articles that discuss the planning and process of implementing document delivery in four university libraries. Major themes discussed include collection-development issues; user needs and expectations; and the reorganization of the libraries to incorporate…

Examines literature for guiding libraries to develop services that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Presents a case of the University of Alabama Libraries' establishment of a technologies lab to serve the needs of the blind, visually impaired, and learning disabled students; examines problems and efforts to increase staff…

Twelve articles describe the impact of library technologies on reference services. Staff training, the academic librarian as teacher and information provider, decision-making models for planning reference services, patron database access options, management of reference services, systemwide electronic access, and the electronic library are among…

Presents an administrative overview on planning needed to implement information technology-based reference and instructional services in academic libraries. Discusses staffing; troubleshooting; fund raising and budget development; consortia and digital resources; and the need for continuing education. (LRW)

Describes the history of consortia and cooperative efforts among libraries and their role in distance learning in higher education. Discusses shared online catalogs; purchases of electronic resources; supporting distance learners' information needs, including virtual reference; staff training; change management; cooperative planning; vendor…

Discusses three major roles of the academic library reference department manager: managing reference personnel, including training, communication, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution; implementing new technologies, including assessment of users' needs; and leadership and planning for future changes, including strategic planning,…

Includes 89 references to materials relating to accountability and evaluation of library reference services. Highlights include research; statistics; planning; user studies; decision making; school libraries; public libraries; academic libraries; and standards. (LRW)