This transcript contains the text of a speech and five panel presentations on the problems of people with hearing impairments and the provision of academic library instruction to deaf students. Herbert W. Larson describes: methods for effectively communicating with the deaf; the use of signing, lip reading, and interpreters; colleges for the deaf;…

This discussion centers on the role of libraries in providing postsecondary students and other users with instruction in the use of library resources. It reviews the history of library user education, examines the effects of hard economic times on library instruction, and describes User Education Resources (USER), an Australian database containing…

Examination of the confrontation between patrons and technology in the library focuses on two questions evident when addressing the instruction librarian's role in humanizing technology: whether the library profession can afford to humanize interaction between client and technology, and how instruction librarians can humanize the confrontation.…

Explains that library reference personnel usually need to be increased as library instruction flourishes, that staff should be carefully evaluated in order to detect incompetencies, and that all library staff should be recognized for their contributions in order to maximize the effectiveness of the program. (CWM)

Discusses the needs of remote users of online public access catalogs (OPACs). User expectations are discussed; problems encountered by remote-access users are examined, including technical problems and searching problems; support services are described, including instruction, print guides, and online help; and differences from the needs of…

Discusses academic library users who are not affiliated with the institution and considers the problems associated with them. Ethical issues are raised; possible solutions are suggested, including guidelines, bibliographic instruction, and user fees; and policies implemented at the University of California at Berkeley regarding unaffiliated users…

This essay offers suggestions to make online public access catalogs (OPACs) less idiosyncratic and more usable. Discussion covers qualitative difference between online catalog and predecessors, challenge of debunking assumptions, skills for success, maintaining an instructional perspective, catalog development for the people by the people, and the…

Discusses components of the emerging virtual library. Highlights include adopting technology to enhance library services; navigation problems; shared resources and services; costs; implementation challenges, including library instruction programs; control over intellectual content; technical design issues; and a brief overview of current virtual…

This paper describes the problems, services, and role of school libraries and media centers in the developing countries, and an experimental research project at the Abadina Media Resource Center (AMRC) in Nigeria. Six problems facing developing countries in the provision of school media services are discussed. An overview of the present state of…

This essay addresses the serious problem for bibliographic instruction programs posed by teaching faculty who possess few skills in library research. Discussion covers faculty and student experience with bibliographic research, the bookish professor and other myths, difficulties of library instruction, and implications for future planning.…

Discusses the need to incorporate information skills across the curriculum. Problems facing school libraries are examined; strategies to promote information skills across the curriculum are suggested; the use of information technology is considered; examples of current practice in the United Kingdom are described; and implications for librarians…

Discusses the challenges and opportunities facing social science academic reference librarians working with researchers in a rapidly changing technological environment. Highlights include faculty relations and training needs; assistance to graduate students, such as suggestions for bibliographic instruction; information products and user…

Discussion of bibliographic instruction for users of CD-ROM products highlights computer-based tutorials (CBT) that were developed at the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario. Structured searching is described, and problems created by the lack of commercial CD-ROM tutorials and adequate training videos are…

Explains resource-based teaching and the necessary teamwork involving teachers and media specialists. Topics discussed include the librarian's role in curriculum planning; the role of school principals; implementation problems facing librarians; competencies needed by media specialists for curriculum planning; and how to gather support for…

Discusses the role of academic libraries and librarians and suggests they should become more involved in social and political issues such as AIDS education. The use of a mass media campaign as a model for library activities is explained, and problems surrounding AIDS education in libraries are addressed. (20 references) (LRW)