Libraries assume a significant financial obligation in the provision of government publications and products. The Government Printing Office (GPO) service roles, service pledges, and depository library service roles are discussed. The GPO's Superintendent of Documents (SUDOCS), an electronic depository program, will place a significant financial…

Discusses the transition that libraries are currently experiencing between physical resources and electronic access. Topics include technology as tools rather than solutions; media and technology; desktop publishing; electronic books; Web commerce; instant books, or books printed on demand; new types of media; and serving the users. (LRW)

Describes Pellissippi State Technical Community College's development of an online library instruction tutorial to help reference librarians teach information literacy skills to students, faculty, and staff. The tutorial teaches library patrons to use the college's OPAC and its online periodical indexes. Includes the online quiz/evaluation…

States that several states are establishing networks for resource sharing. Florida offers these resources through the Florida Distance Learning Library Initiative, Wisconsin has BadgerLink and WISCAT, TexShare provides library resource sharing in Texas, and Louisiana has LOUIS and LLN. These are some of the states successfully demonstrating…

Explains the imposed query model of information seeking and incorporates findings and implications surrounding work on imposed queries into reference work with children. Highlights include a developmental view; types of reference questions; relevance; information services for children; stereotyping; modeling search behavior; and evaluating…

Data on the 81 largest libraries in the "Public Library Data Service '96 Statistical Report" were examined to determine the validity of commonly held assumptions, namely that the age, educational level, and economic status of a community correlate, one way or another, with public library use and support in that community. No evidence to…

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.…