Seven articles address topics related to leadership and library administration: (1) the nature of leadership; (2) the role of mentorship in developing library leaders; (3) the relationship between leadership and personnel development; (4) leadership roles for librarians; (5) library directors as middle managers; (6) raising librarians' salaries;…

Traces the development of reference service in American libraries during the second half of the nineteenth century and examines the evolution of reference service in the Providence Public Library. The article focuses on how the distinctive features of reference service were conceived and merged into the current concept of reference service. (43…

Looks at current scenarios in the book worlds of the United States and the United Kingdom, including taxes on books, net book pricing, and public lending rights; traces their historical background; and shows differences in attitudes and priorities in these leading publishing countries. (34 references) (MES)

Examines the issue of evaluation of information by librarians in reference services, comparing this aspect of reference with the evaluative decisions made in the selection process. It is argued that libraries should assume an evaluative role in order to help users sort through information and make wise decisions about what they need. (two…

Discusses several pitfalls that face corporate special librarians, including: defining the library role; management control; decentralization; budgeting; user expectations; purchasing control; organizational propaganda; reporting; clerical staffing; and end-user searching. (five references) (MES)

Describes the elements of a quality assurance (QA) program for special libraries, including one library's program and problem-solving model; the role of others in the library's program; types of recordkeeping; and integration of the program with organizational QA. Ten suggestions for establishing a QA program are offered. (6 references) (MES)

Examines the competitive intelligence approach to corporate information gathering, and discusses how it differs from the traditional library information center approach. Steps for developing a competitive intelligence system in the library information center are suggested. (33 references) (MES)

The mission of the college library of the future will be principally a teaching one, directly linked to the institution's educational mission. Therefore, assessment and accreditation should be directed primarily at the library's relationship to the teaching and learning functions of the institution. Evaluation should emphasize how interaction with…

Provides a detailed table of contents and an overview of this special issue. Describes how federal agencies and other organizations are addressing issues related to the earth's changing environment, including providing the infrastructure for global change data and information management. (LRW)

Report on the 1992 American Library Association (ALA) conference discusses featured speakers, political actions of the ALA Council, guidelines on patron behavior, the resignation of ALA Executive Director Linda Crismond, and conference exhibits. Excerpts from an address by new ALA president Marilyn Miller on empowering people through libraries are…

Stupp Teacher Resource Center at the Missouri Botanical Gardens serves as a resource to botanical gardens staff and to educators. A survey conducted in 1991 to determine whether the educational programs of the Stupp model were unique found that education programs in botanical gardens libraries are becoming more widespread and that their…

Discusses 10 library roles that need to be taken into consideration when planning for a new facility: study hall, workplace, distribution center, cost center, part of a community, a museum, part-time parent, a store, an evolving organism, or something more. It is noted that different roles help determine the type of facility needed. (LAE)

Presents a research finding that elementary school principals generally have a broader conception of the role of the teacher-librarian than teacher-librarians themselves, together with seven comments on various facets of the finding. Bibliographic information is provided for the eight doctoral dissertations on which the overall finding and…

Reviews themes of the past 20 years of Australian special librarianship. Highlights include contributions of Lesle Symes; the role of librarians during periods of social and technological change; the need for special librarians to reestablish themselves as experts in information retrieval and information organization; and information professionals…

As part of its bicentennial celebration, the Library of Congress is sponsoring the Local Legacies project, an unprecedented effort in which Americans across the nation work with their members of Congress to document unique traditions for the collections of the American Folklife Center. Libraries will have a critical role in directing documentation…