Via an overview of core journal studies, emphasizing the social sciences and education, this review looks for best practices in both motivation and methodology. Selection decisions receive particular focus. Lack of correlation between methods is indicative of the complexity of the topic and the need for judgment in design and use. (Author)

Describes the development, purpose, and content of an independent-study course developed by academic librarians from ten colleges and universities in Utah and taught via the World Wide Web. "Internet Navigator" emphasizes information literacy rather than Internet mechanics. Discusses student and faculty responses, collaboration, and…

Critiques the process for selecting academic librarians. Discusses the role of job analysis, the use of reference checks, structured interviews, open sessions, candidate presentations, and performance testing. Concludes that many of the deficiencies in academic library selection could be corrected without undermining the collegial and…

Reports on a 1995 survey of Wisconsin academic libraries regarding collection development practices for languages and literature. Results suggest that faculty control selection; approval plans have not taken over from personal selection; and local demand is emphasized over presumed quality as suggested by review magazines. (LRW)

Discusses lifelong learning and the need for information retrieval skills, and describes how Northwest Missouri State University incorporates a heuristic model of library instruction in which students continually evaluate and refine information-seeking practices while progressing through all levels of courses in diverse disciplines. (Author/LRW)

Librarians at Indiana University Northwest Library surveyed patrons on how to make the library's collection and services more accessible by improving signage. Examines the effectiveness of signage to instruct users, reduce difficulties and fears, ameliorate negative experiences, and contribute to a user-friendly environment. (AEF)

Describes the use of the CACD (Collection Analysis CD-ROM), a microcomputer-based evaluation tool introduced by OCLC and supported by AMIGOS, by a consortium of SUNY (State University of New York) libraries. Topics include analyzing monographic collections, cooperative collection development, and resource sharing. (LRW)

Discussion of the reference practitioner-client relationship in academic libraries focuses on mediation and client self-determination. Highlights include the role of librarians, assessing the needs of the client, limitations in client capacity to make choices, empowering clients, and developing partnerships. (Author/LRW)

Explains how Texas A&M University libraries developed a wireless network, including problems encountered, and describes three wireless services currently being delivered using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs, and wireless laptop computers. Topics include costs versus value; data security and access; wireless access points;…

Describes a method of library staff training based on chat transcript analysis in which graduate student workers at a university reference desk examined transcripts of actual virtual reference desk transactions to analyze reference interviews. Discusses reference interview standards, reference desk behavior, and reference interview skills in…

Relevant studies on support from sociology, psychology, and communications, as well as library and information studies, are summarized and applied to analyze the services of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Cooperative Children's Book Center, a library widely sought for intellectual freedom support. (MES)

Includes four articles that address issues related to digital libraries. Highlights include a framework for evaluating digital library services, particularly academic research libraries; interdisciplinary approaches to education about digital libraries that includes library and information science and computing; digital rights management; and the…

Women's studies faculty often engage in complex information-seeking patterns as they examine social issues from a variety of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Academic librarians constructing an understanding of those patterns in order to provide effective reference service can incorporate the results of this national, qualitative study…

Discusses the results of two collection assessments conducted 13 years apart at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Both assessments focused on the central stacks collection, a repository collection serving the institution's 42 branch and departmental libraries. Findings provide insight into the results of deferred collections care and…

Emphasizes the need for collection development policy in community college academic libraries. Highlights areas of resource sharing, community analysis, and collection assessment. Also provides an overview of how to create a collection for development policy, and recommends books on writing such policy. Includes model policy statements. (NB)