The author presents the reference process as viewed by several published reference interview authorities. Emphasis is on personality and communication skills rather than technical expertise. (JAB)

Discusses problems of depository libraries such as volume of publications received, understaffing, subject and author/title access, currency of material, financing, and lack of theory and research. An "ideal" access system and an action program for its implementation are described. Four references are listed. (CHC)

Identifies deficiencies in reference services offered by archives and examines factors preventing effective use of archival resources, including changing clientele, organization of collections based on the principle of provenance, and the uniqueness of archival collections. Suggestions for improving public service, including user studies and…

Traces the development of Telidon, a videotex communications system, highlighting Telidon trials and citing library applications and projects being developed by various Canadian libraries. Four references are cited and additional readings are provided. (EJS)

Examines history of online information retrieval services in North American in general and in Canada specifically. The current situation is assessed on the basis of results of a recent national survey and the issue of charging for these services is discussed. Twelve references are cited. (EJS)

Briefly describes the current status of artificial intelligence and expert systems, and explores the possible applications in libraries and information centers. The implications for reference services, classification and cataloging processes, and assistance to patrons desiring in-depth reading of an area of knowledge are discussed. (4 references)…

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…

Issues and impacts of microcomputer use in libraries are discussed in terms of labor dislocation, costs, distributed data processing, networks, current system configurations and capabilities, and software. Reference service management, information retrieval systems, and external online access are also examined. Twenty-six references are listed.…

Argues that academic librarians should broaden the concept of education as it applies to their own activity within the academic structure, and suggests that one way of accomplishing this would be to focus on interdisciplinarity and its potential for social change. Thirteen references are listed. (CHC)

Argues that in an age of information overload, the public library role is to promote books and reading and warns that public libraries that focus on technologies and information services will become cogs in the engine of material progress rather than fulfilling their role as sources of knowledge. (19 references) (EJS)

Reports the results of a survey that examined the role of small university libraries in Canadian communities. The discussion covers services currently available to communities, areas in which services could be improved or extended, and the benefits to be gained by both the library and the community. (19 references) (Author/CLB)

This survey of the literature reveals user and professional opinions of changes in subject access features available for online public access catalogs. Highlights include expanded access to fields already incorporated into traditional MARC record, access to context of the record, and design of the user interface. Twenty-four references are cited.…

Briefly surveys the background of interpersonal communication to consider the nature of the communication dyad represented by information seeker and librarian and explores the phenomenon of users' needs and their expression, specific question clarification principles, and research methodologies that have been used to study this area. Fifty-six…

Provides a brief survey of libraries and library services in Portugal. Topics discussed include background information on Portugal's political, economic, educational, and library history; a summary of current library services in different types of libraries; and observations on the future development of these services. (five references)…