Library Pathfinders offer the opportunity to share reference methodology in an organized, nationwide manner. Intended to introduce users to the variety of information sources available, Pathfinders have been published in a wide range of disciplines. The authors describe Pathfinders and indicate how they can provide improved user service and…

The function of a Federal research library reflects the purpose of the laboratory it serves and the philosophy of the librarian. Libraries at the Fish and Wildlife Service research centers must rely on small specialized collections, supplemented by a large amount of cooperation among agency libraries and other subject-related collections. Due to…

Reference service is defined as the mediation by a librarian between the need structures of users and the structures of information resources. The general process by which reference librarians accomplish this is outlined as including the phases of question clarification, question translation, search strategy formulation, search execution, delivery…

Extra-library information services are helping libraries find solutions to the problems created by the changes in the information environment, the demand for current information, and the media by which the knowledge is distributed. There are three types of these services: (1) document handling systems, (2) data handling systems, and (3)…

Discussion of academic libraries and online systems focuses on core library services and a digital library which could serve as an alternative publishing mechanism for specialized scholarly communication. Highlights include adding value to sources of information; conflicts, including those with commercial publishers; and standardization and…

CORC (Cooperative Online Resource Catalog) is an OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) project developing tools and systems to enable libraries to provide enhanced access to Internet resources. A system for hosting and supporting subject gateways-than a gateway itself- relying on large-scale cooperation among libraries to maintain a centralized…

Three fundamental problems underlie most research in health sciences librarianship: determining what therapies are effective and of good quality, delivering information when and where it is needed, and in forms that will increase its use. Developments in health information research will be advanced through collaboration across disciplines and…

Selection in a consortial setting is a complex, opportunistic, and often political process requiring an uneasy balance of local needs in conjunction with the group agenda. The issues of the selection and implementation of shared and networked resources, carried out in a comparatively public arena, are discussed. (Author)

Describes the development of the Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS) by the Library of Congress and partner libraries that provides professional reference service to users through an international digital network of libraries. Discusses the benefits of searching library collections rather than just Internet sources and considers future…

Current data on the officers, trustees, and member institutions of the Reference and Research Library Resources (3R's) systems in New York State are provided in this directory. Institutional data contain the names and addresses of member institutions, the name of the librarian or library director, the library's telephone number, and teletype…

Includes 24 articles that discuss off-campus academic library services. Highlights include ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) guidelines; sources of information; staffing; descriptions of specific programs at various universities; distance learning; document delivery; interlibrary loan; library cooperation; resource sharing; and…

A MONTH LONG EXPERIMENT USING TELEFACSIMILE EQUIPMENT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A SET OF PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF EQUIPMENT IN LIBRARIES AND TO ANALYZE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, THE NATURE OF THE DEMAND FOR THE SYSTEM, AND THE SYSTEM COST. FINDING GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN OF SUCH SYSTEMS FOR COOPERATING LIBRARIES, COMPARING…

The theme of this working conference, Libraries Without Walls, was explored by representatives of business, labor, government, education, community organizations and libraries. Recommendations were made for the more effective use of libraries in providing information for the entire community. The problems, proposals and recommendations of thirteen…

The "Mapping the Human Genome" project demonstrated that librarians can help whomever they serve in accessing information resources in the areas of biological and health information, whether it is the scientists who are developing the information or a member of the public who is using the information. Public libraries can guide library…

Papers on national library services and activities which were presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference, include: (1) "The Role of National Libraries of the Soviet Union in Reading Promotion" (N. S. Kartashov, USSR); (2) "Regional Library Cooperation in East and Southeast Asia--A Japanese Overview" (Takayasu Miyakawa,…