Discusses the library's responsibility toward children, including the development of literacy skills, the use of public libraries by latchkey children, and increased demands for youth library services. The need for children's services now to improve the outlook for adult services later is examined, and suggestions for non-children's services…

Discusses whether librarians should aim to give "answers" (attempt to answer information need) or "clues" (instruct user in use of information sources) when responding to users' questions. Peripheral factors concerning questions (when, how, where, why, what), cost and benefits, and approaches associated with academic library…

The academic librarian in the period since 1876 has consistently promoted greater access to informational materials. Several periods represent an approximate emphasis in chronological sequence; these are: (1) accumulation of materials, (2) organization of resources, (3) personal assistance to readers, (4) organization patterns, and (5) physical…

This paper on public libraries in Thailand begins with a section that provides background on public libraries in the past, lists the functions of the public library, and describes three size classifications of public libraries. The second section outlines the tasks of the current public library in three areas: informal education; nonformal…

The goal of this paper is to explore a number of examples of the censorship of women's healthcare issues and to investigate issues and questions related to those examples. The paper looks primarily at censorship in the United States; however, the problems and issues discussed are international in scope, and some international examples are…

This paper looks at some of the potential roles that librarians could adopt in the age of the Internet; e.g., resource discovery, cataloging the Internet, and user education. It outlines the effect that networked information is having on the library profession. It identifies the new roles that information professionals are performing and shows…

If the library is to serve a communication function, we need not only to gain further insight into the nature and pattern of the interpersonal encounter through scholarly research, but also to have a clearly defined notion of the library's role in today's rapidly changing society. (38 references) (Author)

The recommendation of the Report of the New York State Commissioner of Education's Committee on Library Development that the elementary school media center should have the responsibility...to meet all the library needs of all children..." is reviewed. (Author)

Discussion of the teaching role of the academic librarian focuses primarily on reference librarianship. The interaction between patron and librarian and the necessity for the librarian to teach are noted. Eighteen references are provided. (EJS)

Examines cultural and personal factors which may affect an individual's request for medical information from a librarian and the concept of the librarian as "educator-catalyst" working with health care professionals, highlighting self-destructive tendencies of society, negative effects of some advertising, the flood tide of health…

Provides an individual's response to article by Dr. Paul Kay in the same issue of "RQ" regarding the use of health care information. Patron's health-related needs, the role of the librarian, the reference interview, and bibliotherapy are highlighted. Five references are listed. (EJS)

Discusses the number of libraries participating in literacy education, the commitment of libraries to literacy education, some factors influencing libraries' participation in such programs, and the present posture of literacy education. Sixteen references are listed. (Author/LLS)

Describes legislation and building design criteria related to architectural accessibility for the handicapped; the National Center for a Barrier Free Environment; library programs and services for the disabled; and the role of rehabilitation librarians. A bibliography lists more than 70 books, journals, and newsletters. (FM)

Examines the progressive education movement and its relationship to the use of the school library as an alternative to the formal, mechanical processes of classroom instruction. Thirty-seven references are cited. (FM)

Discusses the services of the San Francisco Public Library with respect to the effects of Proposition 13 and inflation, and describes the roles of the Main Library, the Business Branch, the Chinatown Branch, and the Communications Center. (CHC)