Examines current developments by public libraries in the area of services designed to meet the information needs of female clientele. (FM)

Traces the development of library user instruction in American college libraries, reviewing the major issues, experiments, and conflicts in the field since the 1870's. (FM)

Suggests that the divisions and animosities of the library community could be resolved through proper emphasis on access to information and resource sharing. Urban versus rural library, school versus public library, trustee versus librarian, and issues of professionalism are examined. (RAA)

Argues that archives of sound recordings represent an important cultural heritage that has been largely ignored by the libraries entrusted with them. Part of the loss is seen as a waste of the contributions private collectors could make both as consultants and as donors. (JD)

Notes that public library video programs are changing stereotypes about the function of libraries and librarians. Reviews several successful video programs across the United States. (FL)

Examines in detail the aims, forms, and methods of USSR library services provided for children, including information and bibliographical assistance, as well as the main areas of research being conducted in this field by Soviet specialists. (CWM)

Traces the development of adult learner's advisory programs in libraries, and discusses the librarian's capacity to perform the counselor's role in the contexts of societal factors, popularly-held assumptions, and professional confidence. References are provided. (FM)

Argues that a librarian's traditional roles--keeper and retriever of knowledge, readers' advisor, information specialist--are most valid in the experiential learning process. As a place that voluntarily attracts many patrons who lack higher education, the library can serve as a "broker" between them and the educational institutions.…

Examines the role of the library in contemporary society and discusses the various options available for their fiscal support in the future. The use of user fees to finance selected services--to expand some and improve others--is advocated only as a supplement to support from general tax revenue. (Author/JVP)

Analyzes two aspects of the intersection of the information superhighway and archives: cultural heritage and societywide electronic recordkeeping. Reviewed 15 World Wide Web archives sites along 5 broad dimensions. Argues that archivists should position themselves as substantive contributors to information infrastructure discussions. (PEN)

Offers suggestions for booktalk strategies so librarians can help children learn to enjoy chapter books, making the transition from beginning readers. Discusses lack of illustrations, making inferences from the dialog, building background knowledge from the back of the book, and understanding flashbacks. (LRW)

Discusses issues related to libraries filtering Internet searches. Topics include the American Library Association (ALA) stand against any form of Internet censorship, the increasing use of GUIs (graphical user interfaces), First Amendment rights, intellectual freedom, and deciding on the criteria for filtering. (LRW)

Discusses censorship in libraries, particularly relating to children's books, from the perspective of an editor. The power of words, the diversity of stories and characters, story and imagination, and the responsibility of librarians are discussed. (LRW)

This selected bibliography contains 63 publications and 21 Web sites that can help librarians learn more about how they can use the metaphor of the information commons to advocate for the public's information assets. (MES)

Eight articles deal with library networking issues: (1) the library role; (2) development of a real computer network; (3) attitudes toward networks; (4) the emergence of local systems; (5) the Western Library Network; (6) the Cooperative Library Agency for Systems and Services; (7) the future of OCLC; and (8) building a unified information…