Offers a preliminary assessment of the possibilities and limitations, allures, and dangers, of the World Wide Web for those interested in presenting, teaching, and learning United States history. Reviews Internet search tools, online libraries and archives, and museums and commercial sites. Discusses how to create an online archive. (DSK)

Discusses the interrelation of product content with associated services, or "blurring" (Davis and Meyer) and its relation to federal information and services. Highlights include the federal role in facilitating use of government-collected information; infrastructure and policy issues; and implications for university library reference services,…

This preliminary study suggests that the same level of timeliness and accuracy can be obtained for answers to reference questions using resources in freely available World Wide Web sites as with traditional print-based resources. Discusses implications for library collection development, new models of consortia, training needs, and costing and…

Describes the special collection on deaf people and deafness in the Gallaudet University Library (Washington, DC). Topics include periodicals; cataloging; the classification system and subject headings developed for the collection; online catalogs; online periodical indexes; deaf reference; archives; and the World Wide Web home page. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the education and training needed for information brokers. Topics include information broker as a career option; how library and information science programs can prepare students; research skills versus reference skills; small business management; and alternative and continuing education. (LRW)

Describes training for undergraduate student assistants working at the reference desk at the University of Northern Iowa library that changed from a traditional classroom format to one that combines worksheets, individualized instruction, hands-on learning, regular reviews, increased feedback, greater interaction with students and staff, and…

Provides an overview of the basic components of a digital library. Highlights include library collections; metadata; services, including information seeking and retrieval, reference query fulfillment, and user training; user interaction with digital libraries, including searching, browsing, and navigation; economic support; maintenance;…

Discusses the importance of the relational nature of school librarianship to meet the affective and social needs of children and youth. Topics include psychological dimensions of library-student interaction; library activities that foster cooperation and independence; communicating feelings and attitudes; barriers in seeking help at the reference…

The author of this article is an automation librarian, but at times he also works at the reference desk, as well as teaching library instruction and literacy classes. Working at the reference desk, he learns how users handle their library's information technology. This article explores the conclusions that the author has reached regarding the…

Many libraries are using co-browsing chat products to provide reference services to their patrons, whilst their patrons are online and using the internet. The concept of such an online service is highly desirable, but many libraries are concerned that they will never be able to afford such a system. This may have changed: Instant Messaging (IM)…

Driven by studies showing that Millennials (ages 18-24) have adopted IM (instant messaging) as a standard communications medium, many libraries are reaching out to their own patrons in this way. At the same time, some of these libraries have invested thousands of dollars in vendor-based chat reference solutions that provide duplicate…

This document provides an overview of the concepts and processes behind reference services and the most important sources consulted in answering common reference questions. The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 deals with concepts and theory. It covers ethical aspects of reference service, the reference interview, the principles and goals of…

This document applies theories of participatory management to a proposal for a model that uses a team approach to staffing university library reference centers. In particular, the Ward Edwards Library at Central Missouri State University is examined in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of its current approach. Special attention is given to…

Librarians need to be aware of the technologies involved with change and the ways in which technologies will impact the total organization and its provision of services. The library school curriculum must be restructured in order to prepare future librarians for the reality of technological change and help them become able to manage information in…

The Collection Development Council at Old Dominion University (Virginia) decided to involve all subject specialist librarians in creating guides to web resources in the disciplines for which they serve as bibliographers. The project was intended to help librarians become familiar with Internet resources in their fields of expertise and give them…