Since 1989, the Reference and User Services Association/Management and Operation of User Services Section's Management of Reference Committee has successfully used case studies to foster structured discussions among public service librarians on a wide variety of issues relating to managing change in reference services. The information offered in…

The staff of libraries and the populations they serve grow increasingly more diverse. Library users of different ethnic backgrounds, with different abilities and different needs, challenge libraries to be the place for everyone to get the information and materials they need. At the same time, library staffs should mirror the diverse population…

This report describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a coordinated staff development program to offer certified, non-degree credit to non-professional librarians from small public libraries. Developed through the cooperation of the Central Iowa Regional Library and the Iowa State University Library, the program resulted in a plan…

Reports the results of an informal survey of reference librarians in large and medium-sized public and academic libraries who were asked how they kept up-to-date on reference materials and techniques. The roles of professional reading, staff meetings, staff information sharing, and conferences and workshops are discussed. (Author/JL)

Provides background on the adoption of standards for reference service in public, special, academic, and high school libraries by the Suburban Library System (Illinois) and discusses their implementation and plans for evaluation. Highlights of the standards for written policies, staff, and resources are given; and the problem of noncompliance is…

This report describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a coordinated staff development program to offer certified, non-degree credit to non-professional librarians from small public libraries. The program plan includes a course consisting of five 3-hour sessions covering the reference interview; interlibrary loan, government…

This annual collection contains 16 papers about the use of Macintosh computers in libraries which include: "New Horizons in Library Training: Using HyperCard for Computer-Based Staff Training" (Pauline S. Bayne and Joe C. Rader); "Get a Closet!" (Ron Berntson); "Current Periodicals: Subject Access the Mac Way"…

This final report describes the Inter-Agency Collaboration pilot project of the Wheatland Regional Library among the information providers within its boundaries. The project had four objectives: (1) to initiate discussion between participants about the mandate, roles, and services available to their clients; (2) to raise the image of public…

Examines the reasons given by professional and paraprofessional librarians for participating in continuing education programs offered by the North Carolina Library Staff Development Program. Use of the Participation Reasons Scale is discussed, and four underlying components for participation are described: (1) personal concerns, (2) patron…