With the aid of a grant from the Council on Library Resources, The New York Public Library's Research Libraries conducted an experiment lasting from July 1971 through March 1972. The object of the experiment, which was in three parts or phases, was to determine the acceptability of microfilm as a substitute for the public card catalog, the new…

To assess the information needs of Florida State government agencies and the information services provided by the State Library of Florida, questionnaires were used to establish a profile of the state's information flow. Site visits and three seminars of state agency employees attempted to identify specific information needs. A comprehensive plan…

This paper presents data and discusses: (1) the procedures used in the preparation and delivery of eight computer-produced bibliographies, (2) the benefits of using them, (3) the costs in dollars, librarians, and time, (4) the possible operational problems, (5) suggested improvements, (6) additional uses, and (7) questions concerning service…

Criticizes the typical reference librarian's solution to a student's information request--the book--and presents specific reasons for offering a variety of sources and formats. Included is an information 'credo' that emphasizes information, not its package. (JD)

Reference librarians with expertise in a subject area and in information retrieval see research problems in terms of the current state of the discipline and provide information using the total array of online and manual library services; they can also identify and participate in the development of needed research tools. (Author/JAB)

Methods of obtaining information which were developed by the Prussian General Staff (military) could be adapted to reference interviews. (JAB)

Items to be considered in establishing on-line reference in a small to medium size library are vendor relations, equipment needed, number of data bases to offer, training of staff, and how to compute search costs. (JAB)

An overview is provided of a computer based reference course at the State University of New York at Albany which uses the ERIC file on BRS to teach online searching techniques. Course highlights include question negotiation, Venn diagramming, explanation of STAIRS file structure and Boolean logic, and management of services. (J PF)

The activities of the Dag Hammarskjold Library at United Nations (UN) Headquarters relating to the documentation of the UN are described. The topics discussed are: acquisition and maintenance of materials, indexing, reference, microreproduction, depository libraries, standardization, and coordination with agencies in the UN system. (Author)

The director of the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements describes the "Mental Measurements Yearbook,""Tests in Print," the institute's online database, its symposium, and symposium books. Suggestions to librarians for increasing effectiveness of service to users of tests are included. (Author/EM)

Discusses the importance of educational and career counseling, and suggests that public libraries take a more active role in providing educational and job information for patrons. (CLB)

Summarizes early-user response from several academic and special libraries to CD-ROM information products, including (1) promotion; (2) training; (3) user reaction; (4) impact on online and print usage; and (5) costs and other barriers. Caution is advised in interpreting these responses. A list of the 11 sources for the survey is included. (MES)

Compares current problems with optical disks to errors made with past technological innovations in libraries. Lack of hardware standardization, software incompatibility, and high prices are discussed. Widespread library commitment not to purchase optical disc systems until both technical standards and price guidelines are established is advocated.…

Compares traditional online interview with the presearch counseling session (process whereby a librarian, acting in an advisory role, assists client searcher in devising his/her search strategy, before that searcher goes online) and presents a one-step model of a presearch counseling session. An online self-service worksheet and 102-item…

Discusses whether librarians should aim to give "answers" (attempt to answer information need) or "clues" (instruct user in use of information sources) when responding to users' questions. Peripheral factors concerning questions (when, how, where, why, what), cost and benefits, and approaches associated with academic library…