This article describes the roles of librarians in a research library, particularly in the digital era. Librarians' roles vary from the custodian of resources to providers of a diverse nature of activities ranging from collection development, organization of knowledge, information services, preservation and conservation, and management. Librarians…

Background: Although education in Africa is expanding, little is being done to support learners' literacy outside the school. Rural people have little access to books and so cannot develop their reading skills. Purpose of Study: The project described here has both an educational and a research purpose: to complement formal schooling by making…

Discusses early libraries of Antigua. Highlights include Thomas Bray's libraries in the 1690s; meeting literary needs in the 1700s; private libraries of the time; rise of library organizations in the mid-1800s, including the Antigua Library Society and the Presbyterian Church Library; racial issues; difficult economic times; and transformation of…

Describes the development of Books for Africa, an organization that solicits donations of books in the United States and sends them to Africa, largely to school libraries, to improve literacy rates, increase library holdings, and build library shelves. Other organizations that donate books are also listed. (LRW)

Through American Library Association (ALA) projects in Latin America, American librarianship progressed from conceptualization to implementation as the model in modernizing Latin American library practices and societies. Development of library practices was fundamental to pursuit of a "modern" society. In fighting fascist propaganda, the…

Relates the work of Archibald George William Dunningham, a librarian from New Zealand who worked as a consultant for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the newly developed nation of Indonesia from 1953 to 1968. Discusses meeting with leaders of librarianship, education, and government to help formulate…

An American librarian describes her experiences running a children's library in a rural town in the Philippines. Discussion includes frustrations and rewards; the children's favorite books; storytimes and games; community efforts; and her goals to leave the library a better organized, more inviting place and to teach the children how a library…

Describes several Peace Corps volunteers' experiences in establishing libraries in developing countries. Discusses how the service teaches global diversity and trains librarians to recognize needs and address them. Presents recommendations by returned Peace Corps volunteers for developing sustainable library plans for communities in developing…

These articles describe the Sister Libraries program, part of the White House Millennium project, sponsored by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and the American Library Association to build relationships with libraries in other cultures. Discusses projects with public and school libraries and library development in…

Explains three basic models of school librarianship: the American model, where school libraries are funded by school districts; the British model, where school and public library systems are entwined; and a combined model, in which school and public libraries coexist. Discusses models for school librarianship in developing countries are also…

Describes attempts to develop library services in the island republic of Kiribati (the Gilbert, Phoenix, and Line islands). The development of rural library service in conjunction with school libraries is discussed, a postal library service is described, the establishment of village libraries is discussed, and constraints that have inhibited…

Investigates the government policies in India, especially the five-year plans regarding finance, since its independence in 1947 and their impact on the establishment of the public library system. Highlights include model library systems, library development, national libraries, information services, and adult education and public libraries.…

Describes efforts to conserve library materials in Cambodia being undertaken by a Cornell University library program. Topics discussed include the absence of educated librarians; environmental problems, including insects; an absence of preservation facilities and supplies; a lack of policies for the National Library; and physical and bibliographic…

Discusses recent developments in extending library services into provincial centers and rural areas in the Solomon Islands. Topics addressed include background on library development in the Solomon Islands, the establishment of the National Library Service, links to government policy, rural library history and development, provincial libraries,…

This theme issue includes eight articles that discuss the information age, the impact of information technology, and the role of libraries. Highlights include libraries in Brazil, Indonesia, and Nigeria; the Universal Availability of Publications (UAP) program; community literacy; database development in Malawi; and the Regional Energy Resources…