Explored user perceptions of dependability and accuracy of Texas A&M library services through focus groups. Reports user difficulties in locating materials, inaccurate catalog and circulation records, inadequate signage, searching the online catalog, and late notification of interlibrary loan arrivals; and discusses the library's efforts to…

Questions the need for collaborative digital reference services among libraries. Discusses the lack of use among networks that have been developed, probably due to easy access to online resources; economic assumptions; setting standards for reference practice; automatic routing software; copyrights; and patron satisfaction. (LRW)

Providing service to visually impaired persons can provide a special challenge to librarians. This article provides suggestions on making libraries more accessible. Both technological solutions and staff training are addressed. (Author)

Describes how high school librarians refocused their time and effort to make reading an integral part of the library program for teens. Discusses ALA (American Library Association) suggestions; a program developed around the theme of banned books; providing a wider variety of booktalks; and a newsletter highlighting new acquisitions. (LRW)

Collection development for interdisciplinary areas is more complex than for traditionally well-defined disciplines, so new evaluation methods are needed. This article identifies variables in interdisciplinary fields and presents a model of their typical information components. Traditional use-centered and materials-centered evaluation methods…

Summarizes the literature explaining focus group interview techniques and provides ideas on how they can be used for needs assessment and program evaluation in libraries and information centers. Discussion includes focus group session objectives, the level of moderator involvement, various methodologies, data analysis, and reporting in qualitative…

Discusses issues relevant to librarians implementing an intranet, including time and cost savings, training and technology, sharing information, information policies, and promoting Intranet services. Outlines the following roles for the proactive librarian: knowledge manager and World Wide Web administrator; promoter and committee member; editor,…

Describes "Self-Serve Reserve", an electronic application developed at the library of Norwich University (Vermont) to handle reserve reading and be easy to use, reduce or eliminate the need for paper copies, deliver imaged documents, require modest start-up costs, and be scalable from a stand-alone workstation to network access.…

Describes the results of a survey of faculty members at Western Michigan University which was conducted to explore the relationship between faculty use of university libraries and faculty use of computers. Implications for libraries are discussed, including computer databases, faculty assistance, collaboration with computing staff, and marketing…

Discusses how the reference staff at Texas A&M University defined basic tools, skills and procedures that new librarians and support staff should know. A list of Subject Baseline Competencies (which is appended) was developed for the reference department, including desk procedures and policies, electronic competencies, and the three major…

Texas A&M University's Evans Library conducted a survey (SERVQUAL) to measure service quality in terms of tangibles (appearance of facilities, equipment, personnel, and communication materials), reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. Discrepancies between expectations and perceptions were found in reliability, responsiveness,…

This is the second part of a descriptive survey that analyzed the behavior of students and faculty in three high school library media centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth (Texas) area. It reports on the nature and extent of faculty use of library media centers and describes their perceptions of service, and compares data with an earlier study.…

Describes cooperation between the national libraries of Europe on access to electronic publications, and outlines reasons why it has been necessary to act at a European level to improve library services. Highlights include the European Union, research and development, Telematics for Libraries activities, national policies, and future…

This article identifies benefits of using Internet technologies in an organization's intranet or internal information system: ease-of-use, one interface, implementation cost, access, information services (flat content and interactive intranets), support desks (via Web services and e-mail), document management. Discusses the impact of intranets on…

Discusses users' expectations of academic libraries and suggests that a commitment to making the library a learning organization will result in improved library staff and strengthened services. Topics include technological changes; the role of innovation in learning organizations, including systems thinking, mental models, and team learning; and…