Fiscal austerity in libraries has forced some administrators to consider alternatives such as computerized reference services or non-professional staff at the reference desk for reducing the cost of professional reference service. (JAB)

A discussion of the reference desk as a piece of furniture, and how its design affects the reference process. (JAB)

The author presents the reference process as viewed by several published reference interview authorities. Emphasis is on personality and communication skills rather than technical expertise. (JAB)

The document entitled "A Commitment to Information Services," prepared over a period of two years by the Standards Committee of the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) of the American Library Association, and now formally adopted by the Division Executive Board, is a better disappointment. (Author)

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

Describes HOOT OWL, the after-hours reference service of the Los Angeles Public Library. (PF)

Society judges the accountability and dependability of librarians and libraries. Reference librarians must collect and use as many facts as possible in measuring services. (KP)

Explores the implications of nonverbal communication, particularly body movement, for the library reference interview. (Author)

Genealogists and librarians often clash, but these library patrons should receive equal aid and time from reference librarians. (A related article is LI 502 568). (SJ)

A technique developed to collect statistics on reference and information services and library-staff time utilization is described. This technique consists of taking continual inventory of actifities and recording them on a specially designed service record card. (5 references) (Author/NH)

Compiling bibliographies is a pastime that is at once fascinating, aggravating, and satisfying. The author presents some thoughts on the techniques of compiling bibliographies. (MF)

Search theory is applied to scanning library shelves or catalogs for items of immediate utility. (Author/AB)

Describes what is happening concerning developmental information service guidelines published by the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) of the American Library Association (ALA) in 1976 and discusses evaluation guidelines for reference/information services of libraries. (Author/JD)

This article considers strategies for promoting information literacy other than classroom instruction. Library services, such as the creation of pathfinders, excellent reference practices, and provision of user-friendly Web pages, are considered in terms of how they might be useful in supporting an information literacy initiative.