This book assesses the current condition and direction of the American public library. It considers the challenges and opportunities presented by new electronic technologies, changing public policy, fiscal realities, and cultural trends. The authors draw on site visits and interviews conducted across the country, as well as extensive reading of…

This paper discusses early literacy activities provided in and sponsored by libraries. Some of the factors that impact the lives of the children and families that libraries serve are summarized, including the percentage of the population under 18, racial and ethnic diversity, family structures, percentage of children in childcare, low birth…

This paper concentrates on the identification of the main trends that are visible from a librarian's perspective in the area of copyright management in the digital environment. The first section discusses the expansion of licensing, including reasons for this trend, standards for licenses, and collecting societies (i.e., societies that act on…

To help the people in villages and rural areas in their efforts to become literate, librarians should, if necessary, conduct adult education classes, employ audio-visual aids, and even sell adult education materials in the library. (2 references) (Author)

These letters, correspondence between a high school assistant principal and a library science professor, contain spontaneous, sincere and penetrating statements on the meaning of a school library. Together, they comprise a useful document for bridging the distance between school librarians, their teaching colleagues, and their administrators.…

The causes for the failure of the High John project--an attempt by liberal white librarians to make a significant contribution to the redress of American blacks' grievences, and to make the public library a more relevant institution--lie in librarianship itself. (11 references) (Author/SJ)

The years 1952-1972 saw a tremendous activity and development in special librarianship. The natural improvement on the special library concept of service which began about midway in the two decades, and which was recognized by users and management, is the present challenge facing special librarians. (64 references) (Author)

Research groups could do much to improve both the services offered by a library and its role in the academic community. (12 references) (Author)

Sweden is in the throes of an adult education explosion; the public libraries of that country are playing a prominent part in this development. (Author/NH)

A new statement of philosophy for the American public library which recognizes and commits the institution to helping to end social inequality and injustice through improved information access and by reconstituting the institution's structure and staffing so that it can become and remain genuinely socially responsive is called for. (Author/NH)

The academic library can provide disadvantaged students with many new kinds of learning experiences by providing high quality staff, a wide range of resources and facilities, and meaningful programs that will involve students in the critical analysis of the social values and interactions that underlie the foundations of education. (12 references)…

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,…

Identifies the role of the trustee in the public library and the responsibilities that accompany it. (Author/LLS)

Describes the evolution of library services for deaf students and their parents and teachers in Gujarat State, India. The need for cooperation among national and international agencies devoted to the education of the deaf to assist in the technical and financial development of these services is discussed. (RAA)

Discusses the role of the library in the life of an immigrant child or the child of immigrants or immigrant descendants. Twenty-two references are cited. (FM)