A library director describes her experience of safeguarding the confidentiality of the circulation records of a woman who went on a shooting rampage at a shopping mall. The lawyer who represented the library discusses the legal responsibility of public and school libraries concerning confidentiality. (CLB)

Describes public library policies and restrictions on children's library usage, which may include requirements such as name-writing performance tests or enrollment in first grade to qualify for a library card. Such policies are criticized as discriminatory. (MES)

Discusses policy, law, and administrative issues that must be resolved by a national commission to study public lending right, which was proposed in a 1985 bill. Examples from the United Kingdom and other countries are used. (EM)

Examines arguments now being presented in support of public library networking and resource sharing and suggests ways to obtain harder evidence that might serve to legitimize these beliefs: estimate benefits, build in evaluation, support estimates of benefits, seek cheaper alternatives for accomplishing same goal, consider alternatives to…

Explains the concept of Public Lending Right (PLR), which provides for payments to authors based on the circulation of their books by public libraries, and describes the British experience with PLR since 1979. Issues involved in PLR and the possibility of its adoption in the United States are also discussed. (MES)

This essay relates the economic cycle, unemployment, and inflation to reading habits and public library circulation. Highlights include recent English sociological study and its implications for current increases in public library use, future library use, effect of the economy on kind of public library use, and reasons why people read. (EJS)

Discusses public library rule that requires young children to print their names legibly to qualify for a library card. The case of a scribbling kindergartener, reading and writing readiness, comments on requirement from several children's-services coordinators in public libraries, printing size, skinny pencils, and the parents' ultimate…

Discusses the effectiveness of nonbook activities as a public service or in support for other services in the public library, and describes the programing activities of the Logan Square branch of the Chicago Public Library. Ten references are listed. (CHC)

Discusses cooperation between public libraries and schools and describes programs developed by the Chandler (AZ) Public Library Youth Services department for teachers, including longer check-out periods for library materials and a telephone service to hold materials for pick-up. (LRW)

Discusses the right of authors to remuneration for library lending in terms of which authors, publications, libraries, and users are eligible. Problems with measurement and recording, sources of funds, and other practical and economic considerations are also examined. Eight references are listed. (CHC)

Proposes that libraries employ modern booksellers' merchandising techniques to improve circulation of library materials. Using displays in various ways, the methods and reasons for weeding out books, replacing worn book jackets, and selecting new books are discussed. Suggestions for learning how to market and 11 references are provided. (RBF)

Reviews common technical services policies relating to circulation, cataloging, and collection development that routinely prevent full access to public library resources for children and adolescents. It is argued that technical services librarians can work closely with those in youth services to ensure intellectual freedom for children and youth.…

This hearing was held to address two bills designed to protect the privacy of users of video and library services, H.R. 4947 and S. 2361. The report opens with the full text of both bills and opening statements made by Representative Robert W. Kastenmeier, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, and Representative Carlos J. Moorhead. Testimony and prepared…

Discusses the issue of intellectual freedom as it relates to videotape collections and the free circulation of tapes to patrons, particularly children. Research on the effects on children of viewing violence is reviewed briefly. Development of a procedure for handling complaints and clear guidelines for children's access to videos are recommended.…

Proposes ways in which computerized data available in public libraries can be organized and used for management decision making. Experiences in the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library system and the Monroe County (Indiana) Public Library system are described, and use of the data for preparing materials acquisition budgets is discussed. (36…