New Zealand librarians, using 95 indicators of performance, rated their libraries highest on service indicators and lowest on local government relations. Factor analysis was used to derive 13 dimensions of effectiveness. The indicators ranked highest in a prior survey of stakeholders are spread across nine of the dimensions, which fit four models…

A retired library school professor discusses his current involvement with children's literature and library story hours. He describes his experiences learning to do story telling; choosing stories; and using puppets, music, and fingerplays at a local public library. Sources of information are recommended. (Contains 12 references.) (EAM)

Discusses networked information resources used by reference librarians in research libraries. Highlights include the NREN (National Research and Education Network); the Internet; network architecture; the national information infrastructure; the effect of electronic information on reference desk transactions; the changing nature of research; the…

Discussion of corporate library services and the role of the librarian focuses on the recognition and tracking of issues of potential significance to the corporation, or issues management. Topics addressed include environmental scanning of relevant literature, and the use of databases to track issues. (16 references) (LRW)

Includes five articles that discuss library and information work in Africa. Highlights include computerization in Nigerian libraries; education for library and information services in Ghana; an evaluation of African librarianship; the role of Nigerian publishers in national development; and the role of information services in national development…

Reports on second White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS2), which was held in July 1991. Highlights include discussions of the conference themes of literacy, productivity, and democracy; speaker's remarks, including those of President George Bush; a Joint Congressional Hearing on Library and Information Services; and a…

This new column describes Internet and provides a guide to its resources for new users. The hierarchical organization of Internet is explained; library applications including cataloging, bibliographic instruction, government documents, interlibrary loan, reference, and serials are described; access to Internet is explained; common problems are…

Survey of 95 medical school libraries found that 91.5 percent of copies of retracted articles were not tagged as being invalid, that 79 percent of the libraries had tagged none of the retracted studies; and only 16 percent had policies for managing articles that report invalid science. A common attitude against perceived library censorship was…

Describes efforts by a university librarian to establish a helpful relationship with an international researcher. Topics discussed include language barriers; cultural differences, including methods of interpersonal communication; learning to use an automated library; developing a personal computer system; and using an atlas to help foster mutual…

Discusses the use of document delivery by academic and research libraries and lists 28 private document delivery services frequently cited in a survey of libraries who use the services. Topics addressed include traditional interlibrary loan services; the effects of rising journal costs, restricted budgets, and staff cuts; and copyright issues.…

At Samford University (Alabama), Total Quality Management methods and tools were used to reorganize the library. The professional librarians formed the quality team. Focus on customer needs and restructuring of staffing and organizational processes have resulted in both quantifiable and less tangible improvements in service and environment. (MSE)

Examines the view that a mix of services would increase the value of the public library to the community. Several services, including services to business and industry, local and state governments, youth, and nonprofit and social-issue agencies are proposed, and their potential impact is discussed. (Contains five references.) (KRN)

Presents a network design and development plan for a flexible, distributed client-server network of resource sharing libraries in Illinois. The plan's development in phases, design constraints and alternatives, migration strategy, and components are explained. Application of the model to other statewide or regional networks is suggested. (Contains…

Recent winners of the John Cotton Dana Award were Brooklyn Public Library's "Fair Share for Brooklyn" program to reallocate funding and involve residents in the future of library services and the Indiana Library Federation's "Explore the Possibilities: Support Indiana Libraries" program, a statewide multimedia campaign to…

Discussion of electronic texts in the humanities highlights the major electronic editions of Shakespeare's work. Published versus unpublished texts are explained; other electronic texts currently available in English and American literature are described; and the effect of electronic texts on libraries is discussed. (17 references) (LRW)