The role of public services librarians in collection development is examined in light of changes being brought to libraries by finances, cooperation, and information access. Highlights include situation in academic and special libraries, attributes of successful reference librarians and choices affecting collection developing, collection…

Reports results of survey investigating aspects of weeding of materials in reference collections at 377 U.S. colleges and universities: existence of written policy or unwritten weeding practice; extent of weeding; frequency; what happens to discards; effect of shelf space, staff time, and use of materials on weeding decisions. (5 references) (EJS)

Provides a composite picture of interlibrary loan policies of 832 academic, special, and public libraries published in American Library Association's second edition of "Interlibrary Loan Policies Directory" (1984). Loan policies for books, periodicals, microforms, dissertations, theses, government documents, audiovisual materials, and…

Suggests guidelines for library service to college and high school debaters: (1) learn how educational debate is structured; (2) assess the level of debate activity in the area; (3) determine appropriate levels of service; (4) evaluate and/or supplement existing resources; (5) provide services required; and (6) provide recognition. (37 references)…

Seven articles on library reference services highlight reference obsolescence in academic libraries, major studies of unobtrusive reference tests, methods for evaluating reference desk performance, reference interview evaluation, problems of reference desk control, online searching by end users, and reference collection development in…

This five-article section on current issues in reference and adult services highlights origins of American Library Association's Reference and Adult Services Division, history and development of RQ's column "The Exchange," 25 years of adult services articles, documents reference service and changing attitudes of librarians, and library…

Presents eight responses from individuals reacting to Suprenant's and Perry-Holmes's article entitled "Reference Librarian of the Future" (RQ, Winter, 1985). Topics covered in the responses include the information poor, information consultants, information interpretation, library education, the human element, revitalizing reference…

A survey of 75 small academic libraries reveals that most hold reasonably current editions of four or five different general encyclopedias with considerable agreement on most popular titles. Encyclopedias are used primarily for ready reference and general introductions to research topics; new editions are purchased at least every five years. (EJS)

Academic librarians in Illinois were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward and recordkeeping practices for online searches. Findings indicate that confidentiality is considered to be as important for online searches as for circulation records, but that recordkeeping practices and attitudes toward subject and client disclosure do not assume…

Reviews materials on comic books meriting inclusion in a core collection for academic and public libraries. Included are encyclopedias and guidebooks, general histories, collections and anthologies, and books about comic book collecting. Sources of further information on the subject are also briefly discussed. (Author/MES)

A study of the collection of college catalogs at a medium-sized university library found that they are used by many types of clients in addition to undergraduates; users need a current, comprehensive collection and are not bothered by a lack of shelf order; use is enough to justify the collection. (Author/EM)

Describes simple, unobtrusive method of determining who uses government publications by analyzing manual check-out circulation data at Arkansas State University. Per capita circulation and cross-tabulation results, analysis by classification number, document circulation and library circulation statistics, and publications that make up more than…

Provides an example of a course integrated library instruction assignment in biographical research for undergraduate journalism students. The assignment is shown to accomplish three goals: development of library skills, knowledge of important living journalists, and a review of interviewing techniques. (EM)

Discussion of implications of highly decentralized nature of local government for collection of local documents highlights meaning of access, effect of local government environment on access to local government information, library responses, and tools that can assist libraries in increasing citizen and government access to local government…

Discusses the value of critical thinking in higher education and the role of the librarian in teaching these skills. Nine questions that students can use to evaluate their readings are listed, and class discussion of library research methods and review of the evaluation questions are recommended. (11 references) (MES)