Discusses the use of the OCLC Authority File for answering reference questions. Contents of the authority file are described, including personal, corporate, conference, and geographic names, uniform titles, and subject headings; accessing the authority file is explained; searching strategies are discussed; and examples of authority records are…

Examines marketing literature for profit-oriented organizations and discusses how those principles can be applied to public library services for children. Topics addressed include children as a source of revenue; market research; product development; promotion; retailing; and implications for public libraries, including population trends and…

Reviews the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the library guides project, a customer service project at the New Canaan Library (Connecticut). Volunteers answered basic, single-component reference questions, allowing library professionals to give greater time and effort to more complex questions. (JMV)

Presents a summary of results from a study which developed a taxonomy for studying value-in-use of library and information services in corporations; 218 users from 10 corporations were interviewed after using a service from the special library. Provides suggestions for application of the taxonomy. (Author/AEF)

Examines economic and social indicators of our multiracial and multiethnic society to provide an information base for decision-making about effective library services. The statistical profile describes the demography, economic well-being, and educational attainment of principal racial and Hispanic origin groups. Data show progress has occurred,…

Describes the societal and professional, as well as the personal, contexts which motivated the creation of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and its predecessor, the Asian American Librarians Caucus/Association (AALC/A). Includes profiles of the Asian/Pacific American library leaders who established these organizations and…

Reviews the brief history of Chinese Americans in the United States and their contributions to librarianship. Describes the origin, purpose, programs, and activities of the Chinese American Librarians Association. (Contains 44 references.) (AEF)

Proposes a new technique for the evaluation of question difficulty. Suggests that question dispersion by multidimensional scaling models the question-response pattern required by test theory, but without the population density requirements of the traditional methods. Considers the effect on knowledge management functions, including library…

Discusses the plan for building an incremental, multi-year information literacy program at the University of Rhode Island. Reviews the current library instruction program and reasons for and methods of change. Discusses the development of credit courses in information literacy, creation of information literacy modules for specific disciplines, and…

Explains why student-athletes on college and university campuses are chosen as a special group for library instruction outreach programs. Gives a brief history of library instruction to athletes' programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, emphasizing the collaboration between the academic advisors of the athletes and the instruction…

Discusses the professional development of librarians and information professionals and considers the future direction it should take. Topics include the forces of capitalism, the growth in information and communication technology, and the changing demands and needs of users (or customers). (LRW)

Focuses on the theme of safe and comforting places for children, and how libraries can help provide safe havens for children. Presents a survey of safe places in selected works of children's literature. Includes a sampler of creative activities focusing on the theme, and a list of resources (books and videotapes). (AEF)

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…

Describes the development of Project LEAP (Library's Educational Alternative for Preschoolers), which in August 2001 began its 50th year providing the children and caregivers in Ohio's Cuyahoga County with books, music, and toys. Discusses the beginning; years two and three; the mailing list; the newsletter; exciting developments; and current…

Describes how a committee of children's librarians created a booklist that allowed young readers to talk to other readers through published book annotations. Discusses development, promotion, and judging of a contest that encouraged children to submit new ideas and resulted in a list of entries from children at 55 schools. Includes sample winning…