Reviews the literature on academic library reference service, and examines changes in the traditional reference desk model. Based on the review from the perspectives of managers, librarians, and users, new research directions are proposed in which users' information-search processes and librarians' intervention in reference service are integrated.…

Database usage from a random sample of academic and public libraries in the United States and Canada reveals patterns of use in selected types of libraries. Nine tables present usage statistics. Factors that influence database use are briefly discussed. (AEF)

Discusses user education in China's academic libraries in light of educational reform and the changing role of academic libraries. Describes information technology developments, objectives of user education, and the emphasis on computerbased searching in the Tsinghua University library. (LRW)

Describes how the free-of-charge Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) of the Preston Medical Library of the University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville) helps answer the community's health care questions. Discusses challenges related to public policy, time factors, and information retrieval; a user satisfaction survey; and the role of…

Discussion of the impact of distance education on academic libraries focuses on marketing aspects. Topics include the rapid expansion of educational computing; the maturing of higher education; the World Wide Web as competitor to academic libraries; business purposes of academic libraries; distance education strategies; servicing market segments;…

Describes changes in the interlibrary loan process at Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) that has empowered patrons to directly request materials through a shared online union catalog and circulation system. Staffing issues, patron satisfaction, and turnaround time are discussed. (LRW)

This study, based on data from the National Study of Student Learning, examines factors that influence undergraduates' academic library use during the first three years of college. Undergraduates' high school library use, student-faculty interactions, and active learning and engaged writing activities predicted library use for all three years of…

Describes a course developed by librarians at California State University, Fullerton as an introduction to information technology for freshmen students. Topics include collaboration and feedback from team teaching; formal assessment and student evaluation;, and the increasing use of Web-based resources and technology. (Author/LRW)

Traditionally, several types of library in Australia have been perceived as having a "research" role, notably the National Library, the state libraries, and the university libraries, together with a few special libraries serving research-producing organisations such as the CSIRO. This paper provides some speculations on how some…

Reviews the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) activities regarding special collections. Highlights include local and collaborative approaches; budget pressures; access to special collections; digitization programs; recruiting qualified staff; results of a survey of ARL special collections; and the need for ongoing statistics for special…

In light of the new emphasis on information literacy, this research updates previous studies and explores current practices in first year library instruction and programming. Academic librarians are reaching out to freshmen seminar programs, first year orientations, Introduction to College courses, and English composition courses to integrate…

Resources found in the typical education library that supports teacher education programs often include print and non-print library items, and other items that are unique to education library collections. This article attempts to share what the education library is doing to integrate all of its resources irrespective of their formats. The main…

The increasing popularity of digital information has brought great convenience to library patrons. It has, however, posed challenges to libraries in achieving their major missions, i.e., preservation and dissemination of information. The underlying reasons for this phenomenon are dichotomous: the restrictions imposed by electronic information…

It has been over two years since Cy-Fair College Branch in Cypress, Texas, opened as a joint-use library for both a community college and a public library. Cy-Fair College is a brand new college and it partnered with Harris County to create a library for both the college community and the public. Two of the founding librarians reflect on what went…

Academic branch libraries located at a distance from the parent institution often face unique challenges in meeting users' needs for scholarly information. This is especially true for distant branch libraries that do not have a specialized function or collection, but who often face the challenge of meeting users' needs for scholarly materials…