Explores whether library instruction can enhance college students' self-efficacy in electronic information searching. Assesses self-efficacy before and after library instruction; examines how self-esteem is related to students' attitudes toward acquiring electronic search skills, their emotions, and search performance; and discusses implications…

Reference service technology has passed its first stage of insuring more accurate, rapid delivery of information. The second revolution underway will improve on both acquisition and retrieval of data. New technologies must fit into traditional reference service goals. The human should be given first priority. (Contains 46 references.) (Author/AEF)

Investigated centralized copyright clearance services in higher education institutions based on the findings of a questionnaire survey and five case study interviews in United Kingdom libraries. Examines reasons why services were established, how they were funded and staffed, their overall remit, problems, and good practice guidelines. (Author/LRW)

Defines values that librarians have in the information age, including service, preservation, intellectual freedom, equitable access, and information literacy. Discusses the results of a survey that compared the values of American academic librarians, library science students, and librarians from Russia and the former Soviet Union. (LRW)

Growing numbers of libraries are experimenting with a new form of interactive reference to extend service to their patrons at the point-of-need and time-of-need. Examines digital reference for the altered user culture and point-of-need service products. Describes a pilot project offering chat reference service. Discuses developing service…

Describes how the physical environment of the library at Saint Mary's University (Halifax) was developed into a more welcoming and inviting space. Highlights include the use of student marketing projects to examine perceptions of the library, including student surveys; raising its profile within the university community; and enhanced services.…

Examines the importance of understanding how and why academic libraries are changing, analyzes the limitations and difficulties of traditional library performance measures, and explores environmental factors that may help account for why library use is changing. Discusses how user behavior and preferences affect demand for and use of library…

Reports the results of a survey of reference librarians in public and academic libraries that investigated experiences with and attitudes toward the use of digital and networked technologies and resources in reference work. Highlights include a correlation between experiences and positive attitudes; characteristics of librarians; and current and…

Describes the development of a prototype Web-based database selection expert system at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that is based on reference librarians' database selection strategy which allows users to simultaneously search all available databases to identify those most relevant to their search using free-text keywords or…

Identifies factors that influence parental involvement and describes ways that school librarians can help parents gain the skills needed to support their children's technological learning. Describes levels of parental involvement and possible obstacles; working one-on-one, including parent volunteers; and community-wide outreach education about…

Explains federal standards that libraries can use to make Web sites accessible to users with disabilities. Describes Section 508 standards from the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; types of disabilities to consider, including vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive impairments, and seizure disorders; graphics; and conflicting interpretations of the law.…

The main insight given by this study of summer reading lists is that what students are assigned to read has more to do with individual teachers' beliefs and knowledge than any concrete practice. Teachers who make summer readings lists seem to be divided somewhat equally between focus on cultural literacy and desire to create lifelong learners.…

Describes the Florida Born To Read (BTR) program, a statewide early literacy program that has grown from 10 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funded pilot projects in 1998-99 to include LSTA and locally funded programs in more than one-third of Florida's 67 counties in 2001-02. Sidebars list topics and presenters at BTR Capacity Building…

Discusses implementation of the automated recording of reshelving statistics for print reference materials and the use of these statistics in reference-collection development and management, especially in making acquisitions and weeding decisions, based on experiences at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. (Author/LRW)

Discusses intangible and tangible benefits of scheduling technical services staff to assist at the reference desk: improved library service resulting from technical-services staff expertise, greater flexibility for reference desk staffing, enhanced bibliographic records for titles in the reference collection resulting in improved retrieval, and a…