Digital repositories are new tools for documenting the accumulated scholarly work produced at academic institutions and disseminating that material broadly via the internet. Digital repositories support all file types and can be adapted to meet the custom design specifications of individual institutions. A section for community engagement…

Lippincott Library's Historical Corporate Annual Reports Collection contains useful primary sources of information for several disciplines, including applied accounting and business history. They also are reflections of the societal and cultural mores of the times. Unfortunately, these reports are fragile, difficult to locate, and hard to access.…

Describes various infoshops across the United States: these centers offer alternative materials; are collaboratively run and staffed by volunteers; are typically founded/run by young people; and often serve as venues for concerts, screenings, and political discussions. Suggests libraries might take inspiration from infoshops, and serve coffee,…

The digital library encompasses the application of high-performance computers and networks to the production, distribution, management, and use of knowledge in research and education. A joint project by three federal agencies, which is investing in digital library initiatives at six universities, is discussed. A sidebar provides issues to consider…

The Kalamazoo Public Library recently won an election that increased local library tax support from 2.8074 mills to 4 mills. Knowing why the election was being held, when information on the issue(s) would be communicated to voters, and how the information would be disseminated contributed to its success. The funding provides for renovations, a new…

Suggests that work with the labor movement presents an opportunity for libraries to reach deeper into their community of users. Provides examples of library services, both in-house programs and materials and outreach efforts, for the labor community. Notes that the need for library-labor partnerships is as strong as ever. (AEF)

The Library Policy Committee appointed by the Finland Ministry of Education in 1999 worked for 2 years to identify the challenges arising in the civil information society and the concrete solutions to them. This document is a summary of the salient points of the Committee's report. First, the vision for the Finnish public library is outlined,…

The "Mapping the Human Genome" project demonstrated that librarians can help whomever they serve in accessing information resources in the areas of biological and health information, whether it is the scientists who are developing the information or a member of the public who is using the information. Public libraries can guide library…

Describes Internet implementation at several progressive community college libraries. Notes that innovative librarians have developed a number of creative strategies for delivering information services via the Internet. Reminds librarians that if they do not assume the role of expert intermediary between the general user and the available…

Discussion of libraries in Russia focuses on science and medical libraries. Topics addressed include historical background; library science education; a consortium formed to build national databases and disseminate information; producers of scientific and medical information; international cooperation; interlibrary loans; the Russian Medical…

The responsibility of the National Library of Education (NLE) is to maintain a comprehensive collection of education information, to serve as a central point for education information services, and to establish a national network of education information providers. This report contains recommendations that are intended to challenge the NLE to…

This paper describes the network of Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs), a collaborative partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for disseminating patent and trademark information in every state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Typical information sources and services provided at PTDLs are…

Traditional reference service at the Creighton University Health Sciences Library/Learning Resources Center has been transformed into a vibrant, information dissemination system. Maintaining routine reference skills and developing new ones is standard practice. The furious pace of demand for information, and the growing "technicalness"…

In fiscal year 1992, state funding to the South Carolina State Library was reduced on four occasions, but the library staff performed at high levels. Despite a 38 percent reduction in the library materials budget, the State Library had its best year ever in terms of providing information, with the number of items loaned continuing to increase. In…

This paper investigates the need for electronic provision of information, and advises that the purpose and motivation for providing electronic resources be explored before embarking on a project to provide them. Many projects at universities and other institutes have been begun arbitrarily just because there happened to be financial resources…