There are many chasms in the library profession: among different libraries and between public services and technology staff, users and librarians, and research and practice. Susan Gibbons bridges all of them. As director of digital library initiatives at the University of Rochester River Campus Libraries, Gibbons was an early adopter of MIT's…

The author argues that there is a need to reassess the direction of the academic library and the working practices of the staff within it to reclaim our libraries for their users and to examine the epistemology of library and information services. He argues that in order for academic libraries to find their place in the tertiary education culture…

The paper describes the introduction of Web 2.0 techniques and tools at the Yarra Plenty public library in Victoria, beginning with library staff. The author argues that as libraries move from Web 1.0 type delivery systems to the social networking world of Library 2.0 librarians need to deploy and make accessible these radically different systems,…

For the past several years, many in the library profession have questioned the relevance of reference librarians in the digital age. With so much information available online, are reference librarians even still needed? The author believes they are--probably even more so today than ever. It is precisely the vast proliferation of electronic…

This paper describes a project that underscores the critical role of this nation's museums and libraries in helping citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness. Recognizing that every individual requires these…

Librarians and Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) personnel were interviewed at eight urban college and university campuses to determine the extent to which their respective libraries have responded to educationally disadvantaged students. (Author)

Libraries will play a crucial role in meeting the goal of establishing the learning society mandated in "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) in the Department of Education administers several…

Libraries have long functioned as institutions which exerted wide-ranging cultural-social activity as determined by the economic and cultural needs of society. Librarianship as an educational factor has become increasingly important during the past half century with respect to its quantitative growth and its quality world-wide. Although the school…

The invitational conference sought to create an atmosphere in which public library administrators and youth services librarians might freely discuss and reach consensus regarding a definition of the appropriate role of Florida public libraries in service to youth in the decade ahead, appropriate, realistic objectives for public libraries' youth…

The author begins with a broad discussion of the background and historical development of bibliotherapy. Through the study of theories, observations, personal opinions and comments, it is concluded that the field of bibliotherapy is a very subjective one. It is recommended that libraries increase their bibliotherapeutic role. (SG)

The eight papers included in this anthology were originally presented during the 1968 quarterly meeting of the Public Libraries Section, Victorian Division of the Library Association of Australia. The papers are: (1) Some Current Problems in Public Library Development in Victoria, (2) The Role of Government and Public Libraries, (3) Regional…

This report is intended to aid the library at Stanford University in determining: (1) How it should respond to faculty and student need to know about computer-based information systems; (2) If the library has a role in supporting awareness of, and access to information about computerized files on campus; and (3) If the library has a role in…

Believes librarians should cut themselves loose from the goals of school and set up alternative learning networks. (Editor)

Presents standards for reference services developed by the Suburban Library System (Illinois) and discusses the effects of the standards on youth services. Standards for a written reference plan, reference staff, reference sources, and evaluation are included. (11 references) (MES)

Discusses the role of the librarian in child abuse prevention, including the identification of high risk situations, provision of appropriate literature and support group information, and acting as a role model. An annotated bibliography of books for children and young adults in families at risk is provided. (8 references) (CLB)