Describes some of the services provided by the State Information and Reference Center of the California State Library, including the annotated bibliographies "Management Trends" and "Special Topics," and the provision of direct access to the University of California's online catalog. (EAM)

Examines quantitative and qualitative evaluation and analysis of Washington State Library reference activities, based on research activities of the Consortium for Public Library Innovation. Several methods of data collection for a sample day are discussed, including a user ticket and a patterns of information requests form. (Author)

Predicts that library cooperation, in its developed form, will involve state or regional electronic libraries having the following minimum components: (1) a short record automated system which will record the holdings of each member library, (2) an efficient document delivery system, and (3) a complete bibliographic system. (LLS)

Maher advocates analysis of archival use, outlines methodologies for such analyses, and provides examples of results of two kinds of user studies. Turnbaugh advocates broadening the context of user studies in government archives to include all areas of activity so that the institution is embedded in the processes of government. (EM)

Describes the New York State Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Clearinghouse that is run by the New York State Library and discusses hands-on GIS technology used as an enhancement to its reference services. Topics include community building, in-house projects, library database development, outreach, and the future of GIS reference. (LRW)

Discusses the availability and uses of online retrieval systems within the environment of a state legislature, identifies relevant databases, and reports the results of a survey of online retrieval system use by state legislatures. Examples of searches relevant to legislative concerns and a 23-item reference list are included. (Author/JL)

Discussion of the use of interactive television highlights a program by the Minnesota State Law Library that provides reference services to prison inmates. Time, cost, and quality of reference services are considered versus on-site visits; technical difficulties are discussed; and a sidebar describes two other library experiments with interactive…

Reports on in-house use of online services at the Maine State Library for searches not specifically requested by client or initiated by staff member to advance job flow. Use of TALIMAINE service for interlibrary loan verification, document delivery, book selection, and staff development, and client breakdown for 1983-1984 are described. (EJS)

Presents views of eight library jobs considered to be among the most desirable based on an informal poll of over 50 librarians. Directors of public libraries, the Librarian of Congress, state librarians, special librarians, and reference librarians are profiled, and a list of 22 additional desirable jobs is included. (LRW)

Discusses results of a survey of state library agencies that was conducted to determine current practices for the provision of consultants and workshops for the improvement of reference services in public libraries. The necessity of continuing education is considered, implications for library schools are examined, and future research is suggested.…

Contains papers presented at the Cooperative Reference Service Committee program during the 1981 ALA Annual Conference, including discussions of the Library of Congress Reference Correspondence Referral program, the University of Illinois Slavic Reference Service, the functions of the British Library Lending Division, and national-level…

Describes the services offered by a special unit of the New York State Library which serves as a focal point for providing services to state agency staff and for relating the needs of state agency librarians to the State Library. The discussion covers the development of interagency networking and resource sharing. (nine references) (Author/CLB)

The papers presented at a workshop on local documents sponsored by the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Library Association are published in this issue of "Illinois Libraries". The local documents under consideration are the publications of local governmental agencies and their subunits and any other items appropriate to a local…

Social and economic issues affecting the vitality of public libraries in California are discussed. A 1993 study by the California State Library identified diminishing reference skills and reference collections, reduced funding which impacted staffing, increased demand, technology change, and language/culture issues as contributing factors to…

Reports the rationale, design, implementation, and results of an examination of the impact of online subject catalogs on users by comparing their behaviors before and after catalog installation. Evaluation criteria included volume of use, types of searches, use of other catalogs, search time, user satisfaction, and need for assistance. (CLB)