Describes how three public library youth librarians used statistics to justify budget requests, change resource allocations, expand services, and show benefits of new services to the community. Examples are provided under the following headings: Show what's missing; Show what's gone wrong; Show what's going right; Show inequities; and Compare and…

Describes how the Seattle Public Library is meeting the needs of the growing number of small businesses. Topics include networking with other small business agencies; assisting branch libraries; use of the World Wide Web; newsletters; trade shows; and local government connections. (LRW)

The literature of user-oriented performance measures was examined to develop performance measures for New South Wales Technical and Further Education libraries. The accountability and strategic planning nexus for the vocational education and training sector is considered in a framework of four approaches to performance measures: user perspective,…

Because North Carolina's telecommunications services have been unable to provide cost-effective, statewide dial-access service to public libraries, the state library has had to identify a suitable alternative for public library network access. This article outlines the state library's efforts to provide access to the Internet and to electronic…

Presents brief site-visit reports of three Paris (France) public schools to study the planning and use of each school's library. Observations from an elementary, middle, and high school include the overall library design, book classification and access systems, technology use, budgeting, and librarian role. (GR)

Discusses trends in foreign student enrollment in United States educational programs, and issues affecting international students both inside and outside the classroom in the United States. Describes programs to assist international students, including library services, teacher training, accent-reduction training, and counseling services. (AEF)

Notes that while youth services programs seem to be diminishing in importance in library schools across the country, the need for them is increasing. Discusses why youth services is an essential core service in public libraries. Illustrates the professional value of youth services skills. Examines reasons why Library/Information Science schools…

Discusses making the World Wide Web accessible to people with physical disabilities. Includes Web site design; text alternatives for graphic elements; Web sites that help construct accessible Web pages; software packages to improve accessibility; accessible electronic resources in libraries; and the Americans with Disabilities Act and standards…

Discussion of the need for public relations in academic libraries focuses on the results of interviews with 13 library directors on the subject of public relations. Highlights include public relations training; use of academic libraries by community members; public relations activities; fund-raising; and suggestions for further research.…

Describes the missions and roles of regional campus libraries and their campuses; analyzes how and if these missions and roles are put into practice, particularly in the area of community involvement; compares roles and missions of different regional campus libraries; and considers the future roles of regional campus libraries in their…

Reports on an assessment that examined the role of school and public libraries in educational reform. Results for school libraries are reported related to student use, staffing, collections, equipment/technology, Internet access/use, needs, and involvement in educational reform efforts. Cooperation between schools and public libraries is also…

Reviews the history of library reference service as well as the ethical debates that have emerged. Topics include codes of ethics; neutrality, and being impartial and non-judgmental; treating patrons equally; plagiarism versus confidentiality; teaching patrons; training staff; and competence and professionalism. (LRW)

Suggests that different groups in the public library's environment adhere to different sets of values, interests and benefits when evaluating the library's effectiveness. Groups surveyed in this research comprised city councilors, community leaders, friends of the library, librarians, library managers, library board members, and library users. Of…

A review of relevant library literature suggests that public library service to lesbian, gay, and bisexual people is poor. Offers ten suggestions to improve library services to these groups and discusses user studies; access, including classification and cataloging; library holdings; and social responsibility versus professional neutrality.…

Discussion of academic libraries and online systems focuses on core library services and a digital library which could serve as an alternative publishing mechanism for specialized scholarly communication. Highlights include adding value to sources of information; conflicts, including those with commercial publishers; and standardization and…