Coauthor of two widely cited manuals on public library planning and evaluation says continued reliance on the works may be detrimental and suggests five additional areas to include in a revised planning manual: future visioning; locally developed service roles; planning for technology; managing evaluation data; and community needs assessment.…

Determines the role of elementary and secondary library media specialists in (1) promoting reading growth; (2) assisting classroom teachers; and (3) teaching reading skills and strategies. Compares actual and ideal responsibilities of school library media specialists. (RS)

Reviews the accomplishments of Ernestine Rose, a pioneer in providing library services to Blacks in Harlem from 1920 to 1942. Her activities included involving community leaders in library governance; establishing a separate collection of Negro materials; work with the Negroes Round Table of the American Library Association; and the Harlem…

Presents a method for building library collections in career planning and suggests current awareness resources; collection development resources; a selected core collection including general works, series on various occupations, books on specific careers, directories of employment opportunities, and guides to resume writing and interviewing;…

Describes a user survey of document delivery in academic settings that used a conjoint analysis approach. Results of interviews with faculty members and graduate students that investigated preferences for library interlibrary loan services versus commercial document delivery services and the effects of cost and speed of delivery are discussed.…

Surveys teachers and librarians. Offers eight tips on the library and media services which help promote exemplary reading programs. (SR)

Discusses whether libraries should limit access to the Internet by the use of filtering devices or blockers. Topics include censorship issues; access to information; filtering software; intellectual freedom; costs; acceptable-use policies; and self-regulation. (LRW)

Defines and describes cyber-collaboration as the process by which disparate-appearing components wired to the Internet (e.g., libraries, publishers, bookstores) deliberately move beyond their boundaries and merge so that mutually beneficial improvements occur. Discusses technological juxtaposition, creative collaboration, and opportunities for…

Discusses studies of public library multicultural services in England. Describes multicultural programs in Birmingham and Brent that involve the citizens in planning and implementing these services. Access to electronic technology will affect the provision of these services. (MMU)

Presents ideas and strategies to enhance digital reference services available via the Internet in public libraries. Describes print publications which include Web reference columns; subject guides, both print and online; and the resources of the Internet Public Library and other virtual reference desks. (LRW)

Illustrates the benefits of an aggressive library program of regularly scheduled and professionally curated art exhibitions and related events. Describes the Visual Arts Program at the Pacific Beach branch library (San Diego). A sidebar by Debra Wilcox Johnson discusses libraries' development of cultural programming for adults. (AEF)

Describes a Delphi study of digital libraries (DL; January 1998) focusing on issues related to digital libraries. Highlights include an overview of the Delphi technique; its shortcomings; use of the Delphi Planning System, a Web-based software application; methods for identifying experts and identifying/selection questions; and results of the…

Describes how the innovative children's librarian, Katherine Watson, of the Denver (CO) Public Library surveyed famous American men and women in 1929-1930 about their favorite children's books to inspire young readers. Discusses Watson's idea that became children's book week, a book talk with local children's authors, a traveling collection of…

Paul Ricoeur's narrative theory, when combined with the social theory of Pierre Bourdieu, fosters a fresh perspective on the debate about the language of business and its influence in librarianship. It is suggested that narratives about readers hold promise because they capture the active nature of reading. (Author)

Examines how faculty at Texas A&M University perceived a library liaison program. Discusses what faculty thought were important library services, whether they saw improvement resulting from the program, whether the subject background of the liaison librarian was indispensable, faculty support for the program, and faculty opinions about the…