Focuses on four issues related to providing government numeric databases in libraries: hardware, access software, staff skills, and organizing services. Basic, intermediate, and advanced levels of service and a guide for selecting an appropriate level are presented. Examples of screens from actual searches are included. (Contains eight…

Explores the significance of expert system design for library reference services and library education, focusing on model logic and modeling for query analysis. The approaches of some graduate library schools are reviewed. Appendices included a decision-support module, a reference module component, and a typology of queries and reference tools.…

Discussion of library outreach services in academic libraries focuses on experiences at the University of Michigan. Topics addressed include a changing student population; evaluating student needs, including bibliographic instruction; analyzing campus context; examining resources available to the library; and outreach guidelines, including…

Considers the types of distance education currently available through two-year colleges and the learning resources center (LRC) services needed to support distance education. Presents a model for providing LRC services to extension sites based on a program developed at Austin Community College. (DMM)

Describes Internet, a collection of telecommunications networks that links government agencies, educational institutions, and other research organizations so that users can share access to databases and files. Topics discussed include problems in identifying what is available; access concerns; ethical behavior; support and training issues for…

Describes Education Information Centers (EICs) in public libraries in New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Nebraska that have been funded by the Kellogg Foundation to serve adults who are in a job, education, or career transition. Career assessment software is reviewed, outreach strategies are described, and future plans are…

Describes Kentucky libraries' participation in a pilot project allowing dial-up access to LOCIS (Library of Congress Information System). The two elements of LOCIS, SCORPIO (Subject-Content-Oriented-Retriever-for-Processing-Information Online) and MUMS (Multiple Use MARC System) are explained, and the use of LOCIS for reference, cataloging, and…

Describes the impact that the war on drugs in Colombia has had on their library services and on the lives of professional librarians. Topics discussed include political, staffing, budget, resource, and physical plant problems; the serious shortage of professional librarians; and extending library service to rural areas. (LRW)

Discusses reasons for home schooling and suggests ways that libraries can respond to home schoolers. Concerns about academic performance and socialization of home-schooled children are also discussed, and library services are suggested. Such services include community outreach programs, tours, sponsoring workshops, and collection development…

Describes a public library's winter vacation sleepover program for sixth and seventh graders. Planning, promotion, activities and games used, feedback, cost, and ideas for the future are discussed. (EAM)

Discussion of program advocacy in schools focuses on the role of the teacher-librarian in cooperation with the classroom teacher and the principal. A program in Ontario called "Partners in Action" is described; leadership skills are discussed; and program advocacy strategies are suggested at the school and system levels. (Contains 10…

Covers the following topics: aging of the Japanese population, restructuring social customs, age norms in adulthood, intergenerational interaction outside the family, continuing education for seniors, University of the Air, public library services to the elderly, nursing curricula for an aging society, preretirement education and life planning,…

Presents a content analysis of PUBYAC, an electronic discussion list for Children and Young Adult Services in Public Libraries. Information is provided on the different themes and topics that appear in the list, the lifespan and liveliness of specific discussions, percentage of active participants, and distribution of messages by participant. (AEF)

Examines historical reasons for the reference desk and workers to establish how reference work has been circumscribed, describes how it has evolved, and attempts to define perimeters between tasks and duties of paraprofessionals and professionals. Highlights the Williamson Report (1923) on training for library services and considers how practices…

An instrument for measuring service quality was developed in Singapore's polytechnic libraries, based on previous work done in New Zealand. Focus groups of academic librarians reported on their understanding of service quality. Contrasts between the two instruments are examined. The time lapse between the projects accounts for some variation. A…