The objectives of a study to develop objective weeding criteria are described and the study findings are presented. (AB)

The duty of a public institution to make available all literature, even what may seem valueless or dangerous at any particular moment, was called in question by the sensitivity of one individual to unfavorable personal comment. (Author)

Presents histories and descriptions of two major public library collections of Afro-Americana and Africana: the Vivian G. Harsh Collection of Afro-American History and Literature (Chicago Public Library); and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (New York Public Library). Fifteen references are listed. (Author/MES)

Comments on the present status and future possibilities of eight categories of public library service to adults--circulating and noncirculating collections, space and equipment, access to other collections, delivery of materials, guidance for users, public programs, and support for groups. (CWM)

Considers the changes in children's services over the past decade and their implications, as well as parental influence, toys, storytelling, and special programs for collection development. The function of the children's program within the library and the community is also briefly discussed. (CWM)

Describes the racially segregated public library children's collections and services in Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee. Discusses the relationship between African American librarians and users based on original library records, annual reports, and librarians' writings; describes and evaluates the collections developed for black…

Shows how a well-respected collection development tool contains ideological frames, using the "Public Library Catalog" (PLC) as an example. Evaluation by library science graduate students indicate that the PLC makes recommendations that have an imbalance of perspectives, overemphasize a particular facet or theory within a field, lack authority,…

A method for measuring diversity of opinion in public library collections was developed and tested in selected Online Computer Library Center libraries. It concentrated on locating an objective index of measurement, identifying the diverse materials available, and selecting key variables that relate to diversity. Four controversial subjects were…

Overlap (two libraries own same title) and duplication (one library has more than one copy) in children's collections of books and audiovisual materials were measured. It was found that there was less overlap between two school libraries than between a school library and a public library. Six references are cited. (EJS)

This checklist-based study examined the extent to which gay-related English-language picture books for preschool and elementary age children are held across 101 public library systems from five countries (with emphasis on United States and Canada). Comparisons of holdings among library systems show large differences, and among titles show some…

Three studies examined public library reference services use by patrons in Anglo, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities in California. Interview questions concerned search topics, use of staff help, perceived usefulness of search result, successful search strategies, reasons for not seeking help, foreknowledge of sources, reasons for using the…