This special issue includes 13 articles that address the need for educating library support staff. Highlights include certification of support staff; examples; attending relevant conferences; support staff in professional organizations; a model for staff development and training; union versus nonunion benefits; networking; and mentoring. (LRW)

Discusses the role of stacks support staff and student assistants in providing point-of-use assistance and instruction in Oregon State University's library. A user's survey is described; staff training is explained; and survey instruments and Stack Maintenance Team recommendations are appended. (LRW)

Reviews the Guidelines for the Education of Library Technicians approved by the Canadian Library Association Council in November 1981. The background and formulation of the guidelines, the functions addressed by the guidelines, the role of the library technician in the library environment, and career advancement for library technicians are…

Discusses the need for a graduate degree in librarianship. Topics include differences between undergraduate and master's level courses; experience; in-house training programs; incentives for library support staff to get a master's degree; and professionalism, including the ability to build community, technological literacy, and a belief in the…

Describes program of four workshops developed by bibliographic instruction librarians to enhance the skills of nearly 100 academic library clerical employees. Highlights include program design; three main goals; staff development pretest (development, return, results, partial list of questions); the workshops (topics, attendance, presentation);…

Explores the emerging role of librarians and support staff members, and the requirements both will have to meet to function effectively. The discussion of practical ideas to help current staff prepare for as yet undefinable responsibilities includes participative management, staff development, and involvement in professional organizations. (10…

Proposes that training paraprofessionals for routine reference desk service is an inexpensive way for libraries to allow professionals to address tasks such as long-range planning, policy making, and sophisticated information retrieval. Suggests that training should focus on specific questions that are likely to come up and on appropriate…

Stresses the importance of staff development as a key to effective operations in the electronic library, with emphasis upon the importance of staff development in the transition to the computerized library. Current library staffing, personnel in the electronic library, and the responsibility for staff development are discussed. (Author/JL)

A training institute was held by the School of Education at Eastern New Mexico University to increase the library and audiovisual media skills of elementary school library media aides in this sparsely populated area, where many school media technicians have little or no college training. The institute was designed to increase competencies of…

The mission of the library in the information age and the implications for human resources management are discussed in eight articles. Areas discussed include the role of library education, classification and integration of public and technical services staff, staff allocation, staff training, the role of the personnel officer, and accountability…

Describes training for undergraduate student assistants working at the reference desk at the University of Northern Iowa library that changed from a traditional classroom format to one that combines worksheets, individualized instruction, hands-on learning, regular reviews, increased feedback, greater interaction with students and staff, and…