Discusses the development of children's reading rooms in public libraries throughout the United States. Early efforts to isolate juveniles from adult patrons are described, the gradual acknowledgement of the value and necessity of separate children's collections is explained, and efforts to encourage teachers to use these collections are…

Presents guidelines developed by RUSA (Reference and User Services Association), a division of the American Library Association, regarding collection development with user liaisons; meeting user needs for medical, legal, or business information; and bibliography preparation that includes a variety of formats such as nonprint materials and Web…

Reviews and describes the current crisis in science literacy and formulates an information-based definition of the term. Library issues and concerns are discussed, including the role of librarians in defining the information-seeking behavior of science-literate users, describing users' characteristics, and evaluating and applying appropriate…

This book of essays is a guide to help librarians in reference and/or collection development in the field of literature in English. Chapters fall into two broad sections: Resources and Collections, and Readers and Services. The first section includes six chapters: "The Nature of Library Collections" (William A. Wortman); "Retrospective Collection…

Outlines the issues and concerns of providing spatial data that have been encountered by the Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) at the University of Connecticut's library. Highlights include collecting and archiving, cataloging and indexing, networking, distribution, user education, geographic information systems, and a glossary of key…

Disucusses local collection development tools available to librarians on their college or university campus, including syllabi; class discussion lists; departmental Web pages and pamphlets; departmental selfreports; centers for teaching excellence; university bookstore; library circulation figures; library consortia; and the Internet. (AEF)

Describes the value of defunct newspaper morgues, with a focus on the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State University (New York), and provides the historical background of two Buffalo newspapers. Discusses challenges facing the special collections librarian: storage facilities, requests for information by patrons from all over the world,…

Library profession must begin to accurately assess needs of older adults, expand library services to this population, and develop new services. Large-print library collections, as one service to elderly, will need to be increased in size and scope. Librarians and other service providers must work more closely in future. (Author/NB)

Studies show that the older a child gets the less likely he or she is to trust a librarian. To encourage pre-YAs (pre-young adults, 6th-8th graders) to use the library, librarians should consider four elements: client, librarian, library, and materials and services. Discusses these elements and suggests how to make the library more appealing to…

Explores some of the collection and service-related issues which should be considered by those developing an electronic collection in a school library. Highlights include principles of electronic collection management; selection of electronic resources; technological infrastructure; user training; online subscriptions; marketing; and technical…

Discusses how libraries can prepare for today's users in light of increasing technology demands on collections and on users' expectations. Topics include reading habits and literacy; collection diversity; financial support; technology versus more traditional services; marketing strategies, including outreach programs; and considering users as…

Presents guidelines for establishing and maintaining Young Adult services in the library. Discusses identifying the needs of young adults; developing the collection; marketing; programming; school outreach; networking; community visits and raising community awareness; popular culture; staff support and training; and professional associations and…

Discusses library and information studies curriculum and suggests six areas that need to be addressed in addition to information access and collection development: assessing and filtering content, intermediation between the user and technology, negotiating ethical and regulatory difficulties, designing user-oriented services, managing knowledge…

Examines three essential questions and suggests areas for research in each: (1) How are digital resource users best served: What resources will they want? How will they want to use them? What services will most enhance use? (2) What elements are required for a coherent preservation strategy covering resources both digital and traditional? (3) What…

Discusses references collections in academic libraries and offers guidelines for placing materials in a reference collection that focus on their suitability for true reference functions and the expected frequency of use. Problems with poorly managed collections are discussed, and the importance of selection policies and weeding are emphasized. (37…