This description of a program in which public libraries serve as sites for mediation sessions discusses the advantages of mediation over judicial proceedings in resolving disputes in the neighborhood and workplace, the role of the library in this program, and the effects on the library's relationship with the community. (CLB)

Describes the growth of service through program improvement and technical development at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress. (MBR)

Describes the jail library program of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (ACSO), Englewood, Colorado. Discusses the regular jail library services and the new "Choose Freedom Read" program in which librarians from the local public library give book talks describing some 20 titles to groups of 10 to 20 prisoners. (AEF)

Describes how the Seattle (Washington) Public Library celebrated National Poetry Month in 1997 with readings, workshops, lectures, and poem-a-day display boards in libraries and community centers. Suggests ways libraries can organize programs, activities, exhibits, and displays for National Poetry Month (April) at minimal cost and staff effort.…

Describes a program at the Plattsburgh Public Library in upstate New York designed to bring basic computer literacy to rural children. The program utilizes an Apple II Plus system and focuses on two aspects of computer literacy: software use and programing. (LLS)

Chicago's library and police partnership have created interactive programs for city youth. This article describes the partnership's Get Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs program, Mystery Beat Book Club, Ghosts in the Graveyard and other art programs and discusses benefits for the children and participating organizations. (PEN)

Presents ways libraries can provide services for refugees. Discusses identifying needs, distributing orientation guides, and collecting foreign-language literature. Libraries can raise awareness through collection development, exhibits, lectures series, locating teaching resources, and creating Web sites. Examples of different patrons include…

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 revival of exhibitions has been occasioned in part by a wave of renovations taking place in libraries across the country. Exhibitions of library materials promote awareness and use of library collections and can serve as a "hook" to stimulate reading. Public response to library exhibition programs in major cities is enthusiastic. (SD)

Discusses learning disabilities and describes services that have been developed in public libraries to help patrons with learning disabilities. Topics include collection development; assistive technology; outreach programs; staff development; and sources of help and information. (LRW)

Describes the Centennial History Project, a local history project at the East Chicago Public Library that encourages its diverse populations to collect information about their social, economic, and political history to be added to the permanent archives. Materials in the collection are described, including letters, ethnic costumes, and oral…

Although libraries offer equal information access, they need to be proactive to reach minority populations. This article describes efforts in Colorado to provide improved library services to African-American, Asian American, Latino, and Native American minorities and mentoring programs for minority library science students. Includes a model ethnic…

Describes major influxes of immigrant populations in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, their impact on library services, and literacy programs for multicultural populations established during this time period. Questions about past and current missions of the public library are considered, and the work of librarian…