Academic librarians have embraced tools such as e-mail or chat that allow them to deliver reference services virtually, but not many studies have advocated for using social networking sites (SNS) as a medium for answering user questions. Even as reference departments field fewer questions requiring in-depth resources or responses, librarians have…

There has been longstanding debate about whether the level of complexity of questions received at reference desks and via online chat services requires a librarian's expertise. Continued decreases in the number and complexity of reference questions have all but ended the debate; many academic libraries no longer staff service points with…

In 2012, "U.S. News & World Report" ranked nineteen institutions on its Up-and-Coming national universities list. The universities were put on the list based on rankings from experts in higher education administration. The experts were asked to identify institutions that had implemented innovative ideas in the areas of academics,…

An explanation of the federal government's Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and how it relates to commercial business publications commonly used as tools by the reference librarian. (JAB)

Ranganathan believed that effective reference service depended on the intuitive "flair" of the librarian and on the use of an analyticosynthetic classification scheme. (Author)

A brief description of the reasons for and methods employed in arriving at an expansion of the Library of Congress classes PT 2600-2688. (Author)

Identifies deficiencies in reference services offered by archives and examines factors preventing effective use of archival resources, including changing clientele, organization of collections based on the principle of provenance, and the uniqueness of archival collections. Suggestions for improving public service, including user studies and…

Discusses differences between e-mail reference interviews and those conducted using other media; presents a taxonomy of approaches to e-mail interviews; and introduces a model e-mail interview, based on a project at the University of Maryland's College of Library and Information Services. (Author/LRW)

Several factors are involved in the decision to reclassify library collections and several problems and choices must be faced. The discussion of four classification schemes (Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, Library of Congress subject-headings and Universal Decimal Classification) involved in the choices concerns their structure, currency,…

The Special Education Department at the Torrens College of Advanced Education in Australia decided in 1973 to set up the special education research and resource centers at the College in conjunction with its training centers for teachers in special and remedial education. The centers would not only provide research facilities and a…

This study analyzes the use of external links on Ohio public library World Wide Web sites, focusing on methods used to facilitate access to Internet resources. The categorization of links was analyzed, with specific focus on the organization, scope, and presentation of links arranged topically. This study suggests that the public libraries of Ohio…

Describes results of an exploratory survey that examined public library electronic mail reference services and the patrons who used them. Discusses results of print questionnaires and Web-based questionnaires that investigated user satisfaction and classified email reference questions received by public libraries. Library questionnaire and web…

A simplified scheme for cataloging and classifying state and municipal documents is now in use at the State University of New York at Albany, employing double Cutter numbers to designate documents by state and agency. A consistent scheme for subject and state Cuttering makes possible both subject and agency approaches. (2 references) (Author/DH)

This paper reviews the progress made so far in the development and use of expert systems for library and information services in the areas of online information retrieval, including gateway software and intelligent front-ends; cataloging, including bibliographic utilities and machine-aided cataloging; abstracting; reference work; and indexing and…