Recent semi-structured interviews with 28 librarians and branch managers on the placement of social workers in public libraries revealed a need for library and information science (LIS) programs to better prepare students for their role as social service information providers and to provide models for working with and supervising social workers in…

Discusses some of the problems created by the introduction of the Internet to academic library services. Topics include problems with the structure of the Internet, librarians' training on the Internet, the preparedness of current users for the Internet, and the impact on bibliographic instruction. (Author/LRW)

Discusses meeting the needs of learners in United Kingdom libraries. Topics include the role of the public library; barriers to learning; implications for libraries; motivation to learn; motivating learners in libraries; meeting users' learning needs; and training for librarians. (LRW)

The desire to better serve small business users for their government information needs led to a study of small business executives in New Jersey. Research findings provided further motivation, guidance, and input for development of a successful Internet training program. The authors' experiences showed academic librarians could improve…

The 17 papers in this collection address aspects of quality data and quality of service to clients and the links between the two. Two keynote addresses are included: "A Plea for Quality Cataloguing with a Consideration of the Audience for Our Product" and "Rare Book Cataloging with the Audience Again Considered" (both by J. B.…

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…

Describes an applied research project which builds on a perceived need for community information and through exploiting the professional know-how of library science, takes the initiative in inventing and designing an information product and service to meet that need. Discusses cooperative planning and describes seven main components of the work.…

The first article summarizes the findings of four studies which used unobtrusive testing techniques to evaluate library reference services. The validity of this testing method and the conclusions reached are discussed, and suggestions are made for improving reference services in five related articles. (CLB)

This paper considers the provision of library and information services to disadvantaged persons in Thailand and focuses on the need to provide appropriate staff training to library staff working with these groups. The results of a number of specific projects are used as illustrative examples. The paper begins with an overview of the disadvantaged…

Summarizes nine papers commissioned by the Department of Education for "Rethinking the Library in the 1990s." Common themes include user education, technological and social change, public policies, and changing roles for librarians. It is argued that these papers, which address adult services, need to be critiqued in terms of library…

Discusses the development of networked information services from a user's perspective. Topics discussed include user education; the issue of access to, versus retrieval of, information; the role of the library, including education and training, bibliographic control, and electronic information services; and training and education for librarians.…

Presents ideas developed by library school students at Emporia State University for planning and implementing a library orientation to meet the information needs of academic support personnel. Library services, information materials, and library personnel are considered; and two methods for evaluating the success of the orientation program are…

Arguing that marketing is a management philosophy that has profoundly transformed the business world and could potentially modify the appearance and delivery of information services, this report describes in broad terms the ways in which the marketing approach may be included as a component in the education of information professionals. The major…

Includes four articles that discuss the evaluation of library reference services. Topics addressed include unobtrusive testing; measuring the accountability of reference librarians by behavioral rather than factual evaluation; on-the-job training of reference librarians; and faculty expectations of academic reference librarians. (52 references)…

Discusses distance education partnering strategies between faculty and academic librarians based on experiences at Louisiana State University (LSU). Highlights include the distance education program at LSU's library school; systems theory; supporting students for effective learning; supporting faculty for effective teaching; skills and abilities…