This unobtrusive study conducted at the Brigham Young University Library was designed to determine whether reference questions are appropriately referred by student and paraprofessional assistants. Issues addressed included: (1) the percentage of questions assistants cannot answer themselves that are referred to professionals; (2) the percentage…

This compilation of primarily narrative reports from 24 federal projects funded by the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) and administered by the California State Library covers the period 1985-1987, with further reports to be published approximately every other year. Each report--excerpted from a standardized summary report form--is…

This collection of materials for a three-hour instructional program for young people and adults in the effective use of the public library includes an introduction to the program, a teaching guide for the librarian, a packet of materials for students, and a summary of 90 evaluations of the program as it was presented at two area libraries and…

This document contains validated activities and competencies needed by information professionals working as records and information managers. The activities of information professionals are listed by function: records and information program management; systems analysis; records center administration; general administration; planning; financial…

This report, which investigates turnaround time for interlibrary loans, presents a 1-month study of the interlibrary loan (ILL) process operating in the Western Slope areas of Colorado during 1980. It comprises introductory material presenting the importance, scope and limitations of the study, problem statement, hypothesis and term definitions; a…

A summary and four papers from a symposium, held at the 1974 American Library Association Conference, dealing with the feasibility and desirability of measuring reference service. (PF)

An urban librarian relates how one London borough developed a program to ensure that books and reading activities were within reach of every child in the borough. (CS)

Question analysis and search strategy development were broken down into nine steps for answering reference questions. These steps were examined for possible mechanization of the answering process. Such automation was not proved feasible. (LS)

This study focuses on factors contributing to the low level of effectiveness of library and information services to the Spanish speaking community as reported in the literature. It analyzes, using an open system approach, models developed by public and academic libraries to serve the Spanish speaking population. Problems contributing to the…

Aspects of library accessibility to users were discussed at this meeting of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Presentations by the nine speakers are reproduced in this report: (1) Richard Boss, Princeton University Library, "Overview"; (2) Hugh Atkinson, University of Illinois Library, "Decentralized Circulation"; (3) Richard DeGennaro,…

The University of Denver Libraries employed SCORE (Service Components Reliability and Efficiency), a cost analysis technique, to measure effectiveness and cost of reference activity. This report examines the results and the problems encountered in application of this methodology. A reference model, designed as a flow chart, was developed by…

This handbook, prepared to assist librarians in planning summer reading programs for children, includes suggestions on the following: (1) establishing program goals, objectives, and activities; (2) supplies, resources, and materials needed for the program; (3) sample registration, evaluation, and volunteer recruitment forms; (4) types of publicity…

Topics summarized in this annual report of the Library Association for 1973 include the advent of the British Library; effects of local government reorganization upon public libraries and their staffs; possible introduction of a public lending right; threat of VAT on books and journals, and effects on the Open University libraries; increased book…