This publication, which replaces "Standards for Library Functions at the State Level" (third edition) published in 1985) acknowledges and celebrates the richness and diversity of state library agencies while documenting the reality of what they currently do. The publication is divided into two sections. The first section of these standards…

This planning guide for church and synagogue librarians is designed to stimulate ideas for promoting the library. It is meant to be a beginning for relating publicity to events of the year. The programs suggested and the activities described are offered as examples of promotion which have been used successfully. The book is organized by months of…

This digest summarizes the history of public libraries and library literacy programs; describes current delivery models; and discusses initiatives in library literacy, profiling one successful public library program that serves adult English language learners and their families. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education) (Author/VWL)

This paper supplements a previous paper that reported on a tour of leading U.S. research libraries that are investing significantly in and have significant experience with innovative online collections and services. The previous paper reported the following five key challenges: architectural and technical; standards and best practices; strategies…

This paper discusses the preservation of digital resources in research libraries. The first section addresses the preservation imperative, including the challenges of quantity, stability of media, economics, and the contingent value of artifacts. The second section describes the artifact in question (i.e., an information resource in which the…

This study examined the reading habits of 301 fourth-grade pupils in Israel. The objective was to investigate the relationship between the type of school library and the pupils' reading habits over the long range. The hypothesis was that pupils who have a central library in their school together with classroom collections read more than pupils…

A hypothetical conversation which suggests that librarians are perhaps better equipped than teachers to advise students about what they should read because today's teacher is unable to keep up with what's coming out. Librarians can also provide the students with lectures. (CH)

Libraries will play a key role in providing access to machine-readable data bases by functioning as the interface or broker between the users on campus and these regional and special processing and distribution centers. High cost will prohibit libraries from acquiring and managing data bases. (6 references) (Author)

The effects of personal systems on formal library and secondary information services use are analyzed. Conclusions are that personal information systems are not personalized libraries;'' formal library services should concentrate on developing complimentary programs. (9 references) (Author)

Eight librarians express their views on the state of the libraries' reference services with some suggestions for their improvement. (37 references) (NH)

Librarians in the Ukraine have become an indispensable part of the entire scientific and cultural life of the republic and books are now an object of prime necessity in the people's life. (Author)

If the library is to survive as an information source it must be prepared to supply total information in any format and to provide the facilities for its utilization. (NH)

The librarian's role in bringing order and understanding to the drug dilemma is described. (Author)

Reexamines Ortega y Gasset's proposition that the professional role of the librarian is to act as a selective "filter between man and the torrent of books." Responsibilities of the librarian in light of the increasing volume of information, increases in speed of access to information, and information overload, are discussed. (Author/JL)

This discussion of the impact of electronic developments on the dissemination of information and the role of the library argues that a central role as a switching center and information consultant will be critical to the survival of the library in the rapidly evolving electronic information environment. (CHC)