Describes types of hearing impairments and discusses library equipment, materials, and programs for the hearing impaired. American Library Association guidelines for four areas of service to the hearing impaired are summarized: communications; resources; publicity and programs; and participation and staffing. Addresses for related organizations…

Discussion of ethical reference practice focuses on guidelines for the individual reference librarian's interactions with clients. Topics include the professional-client relationship; competence; diligence; confidentiality; independence of judgment; honesty and candor; and obligations to third parties, including the democratic society at large.…

Discusses academic library users who are not affiliated with the institution and considers the problems associated with them. Ethical issues are raised; possible solutions are suggested, including guidelines, bibliographic instruction, and user fees; and policies implemented at the University of California at Berkeley regarding unaffiliated users…

Discusses S.R. Ranganathan's five laws (books are for use, every book its reader, every reader his or her book, save the time of the reader, the library is a growing organism) and updates them (libraries serve humanity, respect all forms of knowledge, use technology intelligently to enhance service, protect free access to knowledge, honor the past…

Reports on the American Library Association (ALA) 1992 Annual Conference. Highlights include awards given; libraries' futures; bibliographic instruction; NREN (National Research and Education Network); telecommunications; lack of status in librarianship; proposed guidelines for patron behavior; interlibrary loan; the Americans with Disabilities…

Briefly describes available expert system shells and identifies evaluation criteria relevant to the use of a shell by libraries. Areas discussed include ease of use by system developers and end users, detachability of finished systems, and costs. A glossary is provided. (10 references) (CLB)

Presents 101 variables for use in developing a microcomputing profile and determining the type of microcomputing management appropriate for a library. Variables are presented in 16 categories, including the larger institutional, library, and financial profiles; administration's stance on microcomputing; user profiles; training and support for…

Discusses the outcomes of the United States Conference on Fair Use (CONFU) intended to bring together copyright owners and users to develop fair use guidelines. Describes efforts of the six CONFU working groups: digital images, distance learning, educational multimedia, library use of computer software, electronic reserve systems, and interlibrary…

In November 1988 the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) mailed a survey to 59 of its university library members asking about their fee-based services and the impact of these services on other library development efforts. Overall, 79% of the respondents have fee-based services. In some cases, fees are applied to all users regardless of their…

This document is a guide to the use of Quick Search, a library service that provides access to more than 100 databases which contain references to journal articles and other research materials through two commercial systems--BRS After/Dark and DIALOG's Knowledge Index. The guide is divided into five sections: (1) Using Quick Search; (2) The…

Intended to be a practical guide to the issues that arise under the First Amendment for libraries that provide public access to the Internet, this book contains the following chapters: (1) "Questions and Answers about the First Amendment: Sex, Lies, and Cyberspace"; (2) "Basic First Amendment Principles and Their Application to…

In accordance with a long range plan for libraries in Colorado, a committee was appointed to develop the first standards for basic library service in Colorado public libraries. Libraries and their boards may use this document as a workbook for assessing their library and its services, as well as a document to assist in planning for the library's…

Helpful hints are provided to keep the library media specialist visible, expand resources, identify constituencies and resources, and keep the library from being taken for granted. Library media specialists must recognize that they are faced with a kaleidoscope of constituencies, beyond students and teachers, in local businesses, parents, school…

Suggests guidelines to help libraries formalize their electronic reference services. Covers the following issues: administration/management (library division/department, library administration, campus administration, academic departments); services; primary clientele; personnel; infrastructure/facilities; finances; and evaluation. (AEF)

The Peer Reference Counseling Program at Valdosta State University (Georgia) is a program designed to provide students with a unique opportunity to work at the Reference Desk at Odum Library. This program employs minority students and trains them to work at the Reference Desk answering basic reference questions and utilizing as well as…