The primary role of the prison library should be to promote the prisoners' right to read, rather than being committed to providing services and materials to support rehabilitation programs of the prison. (JPF)

This examination of the position of the special library and its services in the corporate setting highlights reasons why libraries are often taken for granted, library's role in corporate financial calculations, generalizations concerning librarian characteristics, and situations that may indicate trouble for a library that is not serving its…

Discusses problems of increasing numbers of databases (standardization, vendor contracts, training, restricted access, duplicate citations), noting implications for change in librarian's role as supplier of decision making data (education, users groups, search aids, information brokers, collection evaluation, reference and source databases,…

Describes the elements of a quality assurance (QA) program for special libraries, including one library's program and problem-solving model; the role of others in the library's program; types of recordkeeping; and integration of the program with organizational QA. Ten suggestions for establishing a QA program are offered. (6 references) (MES)

Discusses new directions and patterns of service as the academic library shifts from providing access to sources of information to providing information itself. Services of the University of Rochester Library System are cited as using interpersonal communications and public relations skills to provide resources and technologies. Four references…

Describes the five categories of videotex systems, the experimental uses of videotex, and its implications for libraries as a service delivery medium. (FM)

Sweden has special, public, and academic libraries. Staff for each is recruited from different groups of people and trained in different ways, according to the special requirements, goals, and philosophy of each type of library. This article focuses primarily on information and documentation centers and research libraries. (JPF)

Describes the role of the information specialist in a corporate information center and discusses the three areas that define this role--collection, access, and service. Advantages and disadvantages of being a corporate information specialist are considered. (one reference) (MES)

Interdisciplinary course offerings at Purdue University which combine engineering and the social sciences are discussed from the librarian's point of view. (Author)

Examines the background and development of a comprehensive plan designed to improve library service in Pennsylvania. The ACCESS Pennsylvania agenda is described, together with obstacles to its success, particularly funding problems. The effects of the agenda on special libraries are also discussed. (3 references) (MES)

The effects of personal systems on formal library and secondary information services use are analyzed. Conclusions are that personal information systems are not personalized libraries;'' formal library services should concentrate on developing complimentary programs. (9 references) (Author)

Describes an exploratory study of government agency libraries that was conducted as a first step in the development of a theoretical framework to study the role of information provision by libraries in policy-making contexts. The library functions discussed include tracking issues and clientele, retrieving relevant information for clientele, and…

Presents a model for predicting and shaping the impact of information technologies on libraries and the library role which is based on the effects of computerization in various business applications. The library network at AT&T Bell Laboratories is described as an example of a successful implementation of the model. (CLB)

An urban public library responds to an invitation from the local Fire and Rescue Services Department to make suggestions for improving communication between the library and the County Emergency Management Program. Recommendations are made for library involvement in long-term prevention, preparedness to respond, response to emergencies, and…

This discussion of the importance of the law library as a laboratory for anyone involved in a legal proceeding focuses on the role and function of the law school library. Library staff, facilities, new technologies, budget, and evaluation are noted. (EJS)