Family engagement is a shared responsibility among families, educators, and communities to support children's learning and development. For families, it is about the knowledge, attitudes, values, and behaviors that enable children to be motivated, enthusiastic, and successful learners. For libraries, this means having respectful partnerships with…

This article presents an interview with Karen Glover of Georgia Tech, a key person behind the planning of the Access Services Conference held last fall, and now going into its second year. Glover started working in libraries as a part-time library assistant at her local public library during her high school years. She later became a Circulation…

Open source has continued to evolve and in the past three years the development of a graphical user interface has made it increasingly accessible and viable for end users without special training. Open source relies to a great extent on the free software movement. In this context, the term free refers not to cost, but to the freedom users have to…

Only 1 in 20 library directors serving communities of fewer than 2,500 people have an Master of Library Science degree or equivalent. This article examines problems facing small and rural public libraries and the necessity for a new form of librarianship brought about by the Internet. Proposes a professional action plan for library staff…

Presents an annotated bibliography of 14 books the author considers essential reading for public and school librarians working with teens. Lists books published through 1996. (PEN)

Competent Internet-based library services can only be offered if appropriately qualified staff is available. To promote this development in Germany the Bertelsmann Foundation and its project partner, the ekz.bibliotheksservice GmbH are developing a special Web-based Training Course for Librarians. Progress to date is described. (Author)

Toni Garvey, director of the Phoenix Public Library (PPL) and LJ 2004 Librarian of the Year, has practiced her profession in a Western county jail, for the politicized board of a Southern public library, in the children's room of a university community, and through the up and down economics of a major American city. She has managed branches and…

This revised edition of competencies for librarians serving children in public libraries was developed by the American Library Association. Highlights include knowledge of client group; administrative and management skills; communication skills; materials and collection development; skills in developing library programs, advocacy, public…

Employee fringe benefits, characteristics of head librarians, and interlibrary loan activity among Illinois public libraries are described in this compilation of three reports. The first and largest report delineates results of a 1980/81 fringe benefit survey conducted by telephone interview. It is noted that the Chicago Public Library was…

One person librarians or solo librarians are the information providers of the future. This article discusses the need for solo librarians to be concerned with power and influence; service to customers; and political awareness/shared vision/partnership with management. Sidebar contains the OPL (One-Person Library) Manifesto with fundamental…

Reports the results of an informal survey of reference librarians in large and medium-sized public and academic libraries who were asked how they kept up-to-date on reference materials and techniques. The roles of professional reading, staff meetings, staff information sharing, and conferences and workshops are discussed. (Author/JL)

This Continuing Education Plan was developed by the Nevada Libraries Continuing Education Advisory Committee which was created in 1987 in response to the need for library-related educational programming statewide. The document includes a mission statement; the Nevada libraries criteria for quality continuing education; and a list of goals and…

This report provides a brief narrative of the activities of the Mississippi Library Commission in fiscal year 1996, featuring discussion of the Role Planning and Setting Study, telecommunications and technology initiatives, and Libraries Online! project. In the process of developing a strategic 5-year plan, the Mississippi Library Commission…