Discusses the role of readers' advisors in public libraries based on readers' responses to open-ended, qualitative interviews on reading for pleasure. Topics discussed include how books help people, how readers choose books, what they like and dislike about fiction collections in libraries, and how libraries and librarians can be more helpful to…

Examines the purpose for using historical costs in library financial records. Discusses the difference between spending money and losing resources. Describes how financial record systems operate and the ways in which accounting treats classes of expenditures. Uses the example of a bookmobile. (AEF)

Defines dyslexia, the most common reading disability. Discusses the multisensory approach to working with learning-disabled children. Discusses how public libraries can develop services and collections to address the needs of learning-disabled populations. Includes a list of learning-disability information sources, organizations, and books on…

Discussion of prison libraries provides an inside look at the correctional institution environment, prison security concerns, inmate patrons and library use, library collections and services, librarians and staff, the day-to-day operation of a prison library, and future possibilities and needs. (Author/LRW)

Outlines the pros and cons for preparing a mini-collection of school library resources in advance and for having students locate their own resources. Discusses collection use, library/information skills, and facilities management for all possibilities. (AEF)

Discusses library services to prison inmates. Topics include self-improvement for inmates; library collections; the public's attitude toward inmates and its effects on library services; due process of law and the Fifth Amendment; dress codes and procedures; reference interviews; differences in women's and men's prisons; information technology; and…

This study describes regional depository institutions, the organization of their document collections, the staffing of their documents departments, and factors relevant to their providing access to electronic government information. Surveys were sent to 53 regional depository libraries in March 1995. Forty-one of the 53 libraries responded (77%…

Public library and institutional library statistics are presented in this document. The first section, which focuses on public library statistics, provides an analysis of fiscal year 1995 data on income, expenditures, and resources. Following this analysis are five tables of statistics on operating income, expenditures, library collection and…

The first part of this directory of National Library Service (NLS) resources for the blind and physically handicapped lists NLS network libraries and machine-lending agencies, arranged alphabetically by state. The information for each library includes its address, telephone and fax numbers, librarian, hours of operation, book and special…

This paper examines the choices that Stow Public Library in Stow, Ohio made to respond to the needs of home schoolers. Home schooling is when parents choose to educate their children at home instead of following the traditional method of educating them at public or private schools. The objective of this research is to create a model of potential…

This report presents an American Library Association (ALA) Book Fellow's observations of schools and libraries in Sweden's Vasterbotten County in the fall of 1988. The narrative report discusses Sweden's cultural policy, comprehensive library service, library classification system, databases, audiovisual services, and education policy, as well as…

This paper identifies various elements of presidential libraries. The advantages and disadvantages of the libraries' centralization or decentralization are discussed, and some common misconceptions held by the public as to the role and function of presidential libraries are identified. Criticism and debate from the professional community about…

The Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Amendments of 1990 required the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the Department of Education's Research Library, which is a component of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). Data were gathered by reviewing several existing studies of alternatives for…

Data collected from Alaska public libraries for fiscal year (FY) 1990 and FY 1991 are compiled. Statistics reported by the libraries and selected per capita computations are included. Information on the following is reported in sets of tables arranged alphabetically and by population for each year: (1) library circulation and interlibrary loan;…

The catalogs of 19 large urban public lending library systems (10 American and 9 Canadian) were examined to determine the extent of their holdings of 222 gay-related titles. The populations of the libraries' service areas ranged from about 100,000 to three million. The title lists comprised classic and contemporary works taken from standard lists…