Describes facilities, collections, and services of the Greater Cairo Library, Mubarak Public Library, Heliopolis Public Library, and El Mustaqbal Library and Egyptian efforts to promote literacy and reading. (PEN)

An American delegation assesses how children are faring as libraries in China adapt to the contradictions of a socialist market economy. Discussion includes examples of public-, academic-, and school-library programs, librarian attitudes, technology, and future changes. (AEF)

An American Reviews the developments during the last decade (1961-1971) toward a national library system in Great Britain. (7 references) (SJ)

The libraries visited by the author while doing research for A History of French Foreign Policy, 1774-1939," his latest book, are described. (NH)

A delegate with the People to People Ambassador program describes her visit to Russia in 1997, focusing on facilities, collections, and services of the Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, Fundamentals Library of St. Petersburg State Technical University and Open Library Systems Center, National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg), and Russian…

The American Library Association, always alert to its international library responsibilities, has been intensively active since 1942, its early activities heavily financed by foundation support, its later activities, since 1967, by the association and the U.S. government. (Author)

The programs, activities and development of the Canadian Library Association and the libraries of Canada from 1952 to 1972 are reviewed. (SJ)

Describes the Creswell Library of Islamic Art and Architecture, which is housed at the American University in Cairo. A history of the library collection and its founder, Sir Keppell Archibald Creswell, is presented; his cataloging system and controlled access to materials are described; and current plans for the library are discussed. (LRW)

Discusses the potential for linking large metropolitan public libraries to international interlibrary loan networks. Issues involved in international networking, including funding, standards, network connectivity, and protectionism, are discussed. Examples of libraries capable of participating and brief descriptions of their collections are given.…

Discusses Leon Trotsky's views on libraries, librarians, and librarianship in Soviet society in the 1920s as expressed in a speech, "Leninism and Library Work." Topics discussed include role of librarian in promoting literacy, including the use of maps and reference books to explain newspaper stories; the selection of books; and fighting…

Describes the impact that the war on drugs in Colombia has had on their library services and on the lives of professional librarians. Topics discussed include political, staffing, budget, resource, and physical plant problems; the serious shortage of professional librarians; and extending library service to rural areas. (LRW)

Describes the development of Books for Africa, an organization that solicits donations of books in the United States and sends them to Africa, largely to school libraries, to improve literacy rates, increase library holdings, and build library shelves. Other organizations that donate books are also listed. (LRW)

Describes the experience of an American Library Association (ALA) Fellow at Can Tho University (Vietnam) assisting Khmer monks at the library of Wat Muniransyarama (Temple of Intelligent Light) in designing and implementing a library automation system and network. Highlights the preservation of Khmer and Theravada Buddhist texts and the efforts of…

Relates the history of the destruction of China's Hanlin academy library during the Boxer Uprising. Topics include a historical background; Western interests at the time; efforts to replace some missing volumes; contents of the library; and the meaning of the loss of cultural treasures and written heritage. (LRW)

Discussion of the possible changes in Hong Kong in 1997 when rule passes to the People's Republic of China focuses on the uncertain future of libraries and librarians. Topics discussed include the political climate; the departure of qualified Chinese librarians; and the growth of libraries and computerized systems. (LRW)