This study examines the use of chat in an academic library's user population and where virtual reference services might fit within the spectrum of public services offered by academic libraries. Using questionnaires, this research demonstrates that many within the academic community are open to the idea of chat-based reference or using chat for…

There's no shortage of library management books out there--but how many of them actually tackle the little details of day-to-day management, the hard-to-categorize things that slip through the cracks of a larger handbook? "Library Management Tips that Work" does exactly that, addressing dozens of such issues facing library managers, including: (1)…

Ask Here PA is Pennsylvania's new statewide live chat reference and information service. This article discusses the key strategies utilized by Ask Here PA administrators to recruit participating libraries to contribute staff time to the service, the importance of centralized staff training, the main aspects of staff training, and activating the…

This paper discusses the present status of the bibliographic database industry, reviews the development of online databases of interest to the petroleum industry, and considers future developments in online searching and their effect on libraries and information centers. Three groups of databases are described: (1) databases developed by the…

Describes the functioning of an international reference service at the UNESCO library. (PF)

Reference librarians should look to counseling techniques worked out in thousands of individual situations for ways to freshen the reference interview. (Author)

This presentation at a seminar for library staff and students describes the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) system as an information system designed to provide users with ready access to primarily English-language literature dealing with education by establishing a database, publishing abstracting journals, and reproducing…

The reference librarians' task is to provide specific information as needed by users, rather than to teach them the mechanics of finding the information themselves. (LS)

The physical layout of the library, a lack of communication between librarian and user, or constraints imposed by administrators may prevent the reference librarian from giving the best possible service. (LS)

Highlights of four special collections: British Broadcasting Company Reference Library; National Film Archives and Book Library of the British Film Institute; Theatre Section of the Victoria and Albert Museum; and the Shakespeare Collection of the Birmingham Municipal Reference Library. (LS)

The conference was held by the North Country Reference and Research Resources Council as a means of communicating and cooperating with Canadian libraries situated in close proximity to the Northern New York State libraries composing the Council. Topics covered by invited speakers and round table discussions included: (1) cooperative library…

The Reference and Interlibrary Loan Service (RAILS) is a cooperative funded service located at the Ohio State University and serves the other eleven state-assisted universities in Ohio. During its first year (July 1, 1969 through June 30, 1970) this service received 7126 requests of which only 1241 were unfilled, 4197 were requests for photocopies…

An American librarian cast himself in the role of a user and made a series of relatively disciplined visits to a substantial number of middle-sized and middle-aged British university libraries during 1966-67 to study the provision of services and the use of materials and resources in British academic libraries. After two months of preliminary…

Few standards for reference services have appeared in the past, therefore guidelines for reference librarians at the University of Michigan--Dearborn library are offered. The guidelines presented are based upon reference standards prepared by the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) Standards Committee for the ALA Centennial Conference in…