Presents results of an exploratory study attempting to establish a methodology for the unobtrusive analysis of a digital reference enterprise. Logs of over 3,000 questions asked of the Internet Public Library in early 1999 were analyzed on the basis of questions asked, self-selected demographic information, how those questions were handled, and…

An information services organization based on individual constituent groups, instead of defined physical collections and technologies, encourages a broader, more effective, and innovative use of varying information and technology services for academic libraries. Such a model also provides more focused and clearly defined positions and procedures…

This article compares "Current Index to Journals in Education" (CIJE) with "Education Index" by article type and reveals pronounced differences in indexing practices. Implications for educational and interdisciplinary research, reference services, index selection, and library instruction are discussed. (Author)

Discussion of library users who seek information for others focuses on a study of public library adult reference desks that identifies the relationships between agents and imposers that motivate reference desk use and describes agent users in terms of their self-reported education levels and frequency of library and reference desk use. (Author/LRW)

Their personalities and backgrounds are very different, but James R. Jacobs and Shinjoung Yeo are passionate about the same causes: librarianship, open government, and empowerment through information. They balance each other. Yeo is focused, realistic, critical, and an excellent researcher. Her superhero alter ego is Wet Blanket Woman, able to…

Discusses the new emphasis in special collections, especially in academic libraries, on the promotion of materials. Highlights include the economic basis of promotion; exhibitions; classroom ventures; the Web; seminars and other discussion groups; creative writing courses; one-time events; friends, tourists, and the public; and reference services.…

This article describes a think-aloud study conducted to identify factors that influence the decisions made by digital reference "triagers" when performing triage on questions received by digital reference services. This study follows and expands on a Delphi study that identified factors that triagers agreed on after the fact of their performance…

The University of South Alabama's Baugh Biomedical Library recently initiated a chat reference service targeted at distance education students in the biomedical sciences. After one year of service, the library conducted an evaluation of the chat reference to assess the success of this mode of reference service. Both traditional reference and…

It is reasonable to assume the existence of a new "dynamic" that influences how to measure reference services in libraries and how we evaluate the reference librarians who provide those services. Traditional, face-to-face delivery of reference services is reported to be declining, and there is myriad evidence, albeit largely uncollated…

This volume is the first annual Texas Public Library Summary Statistics. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1993 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; population served by Texas public libraries; number of Texas public libraries; how Texas compares per capita; percentage of expenditures;…

This guide is intended for librarians planning to start an information brokerage, whether as an entrepreneur or as a member of a document delivery group in a library. The guide identifies specific skills and relevant characteristics required to establish a successful information brokerage firm and describes a model to assist readers in the process…

Formerly the "Directory of ERIC Information Service Providers," this directory lists 1,029 organizations that provide individuals with access to the ERIC database and related resources. It is designed to help users quickly locate organizations that offer ERIC resources and related services within a geographically short distance, and is…

The challenges faced by reference and collection development staff have become increasingly complex in recent years, as more and more materials--in a variety of formats--have become available. This book shows reference and collection development librarians how to use the Internet to share information through online conversations and online…

This volume is the second annual Texas Public Library Summary. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1994 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; statistical summary overview; operating and materials expenditures adjusted for inflation; Texas library per capita data compared to U.S. averages;…

This volume is the third annual Texas Public Library Summary. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1995 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; statistical summary overview; income and percent of population served by type of library; operating expenditures adjusted for inflation; materials…