Discusses intangible and tangible benefits of scheduling technical services staff to assist at the reference desk: improved library service resulting from technical-services staff expertise, greater flexibility for reference desk staffing, enhanced bibliographic records for titles in the reference collection resulting in improved retrieval, and a…

Discusses findings from a study by the Division of Library Development and Services (DLDS), Maryland State Department of Education of how libraries provide information to children ages eight to fourteen. The survey examined factors/behaviors contributing to a successful library experience; to what degree questions/inquiries are answered; and…

Describes the development by the Alexandria Digital Library of a gazetteer (dictionary of geographic names) composed of a Gazetteer Content Standard, a Feature Type Thesaurus, and an operational interactive gazetteer service. Illustrates the use of this tool in a georeferenced digital library and relates progress in working with Federal agencies…

Discusses new technologies and the value of one-on-one personalized interaction in the reference environment and reports results of an informal survey of practitioners that investigated their views on the influences of theoretical models and new technologies on reference service. Highlights include collection development; interpersonal relations;…

Lists and discusses six journal articles written by Charles Bunge that discuss influences on statewide public library planning; the history of the University of Wisconsin library school; a tribute to Herbert Goldhor's work in public library service and administration and in scientific research in librarianship; and reflections on reference…

Discusses changes in the academic library information environment and considers future possibilities. Highlights include making information useful, not just accessible; a brief history of reference service; technological advances; and the integration of user instruction and reference. (LRW)

After 10 years of experience, the Santa Monica Public Library (SMPL) advocates e-mail reference as an essential service that provides a personalized, convenient, and accessible service for a growing constituency. Discussion includes e-mail reference service parameters and challenges and opportunities. Presents suggestions for public libraries just…

Describes the development of the Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS) by the Library of Congress and partner libraries that provides professional reference service to users through an international digital network of libraries. Discusses the benefits of searching library collections rather than just Internet sources and considers future…

Includes three articles that discuss the top stories from "Library Journal", including the demand for librarians, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, library education, database publishers, electronic research services, the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA), Internet filtering, and electronic reference; the school…

Analyzes information problem solving (IPS) processes of 62 users of the AskERIC Q&A Service, a free Internet-based digital reference service in the domain of education. Identifies patterns of associations between multiple levels of user goals and other situational factors including goal-generating factors, types of information sought, search…

A Hunter College librarian, with public library experience, offered a series of drop-in workshops Saturday afternoons open to all students and questions regarding Web or Windows use in the academic year, 2000-2001. The intention of the workshops was to address the continuous needs of students lacking technological and informational literacy. The…

The archivist who works alone in a repository, rather than as part of a team-the so-called "Lone Arranger"--has the responsibility of handling all areas of archives management, including appraising, accessioning, processing, arrangement and description, reference, and outreach. This essay describes one real-life situation, in which the…

For college students and faculty in any program of study, the Web is a vast resource of material. Information on almost any subject is just a click away. Tools to help organize and use the information are plentiful, and for the most part free. However, the availability of material on the Internet can be both a blessing to faculty and a dilemma.…

Colleges and universities are integrating information literacy into their undergraduate curricula. Accreditation commissions of higher education are integrating information literacy into their general education standards. Students enrolled in programs that promote information literacy are instructed to utilize library resources and services to…

This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, selected findings, and tables. The report is based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 2005, and includes information on service measures such as number of users of electronic resources,…