Examines the role of professional standards in fostering good practice in librarianship. Discusses librarian liability theories and malpractice risk; professional conduct, including standards and an enforcement mechanism; professional knowledge; skills or competencies, including the role of library associations; and shared values. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of the female-intensive specialization of youth services librarianship and their role in the American Library Association focuses on their jurisdiction over the Newbery Medal. Topics include the question of realism in children's literature; the Sayers Institute; and evaluation criteria. Contains 65 references. (LRW)

Examines the federal legislative and information policy leadership roles of the American Library Association (ALA). Highlights include the ALA legislative policy structure today, lobbying in the public interest, resources for successful lobbying, effective lobbying techniques, lobbies and organizational theory, ALA lobbying style, and the White…

Discusses the possible ethical conflicts when librarians serve on the governing bodies and/or committees of regional, state, or national professional associations and issues arise that could impact their own institutions. Several case studies are presented that examine issues librarians face when engaged in an expanded professional role. (LRW)

Describes the societal and professional, as well as the personal, contexts which motivated the creation of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and its predecessor, the Asian American Librarians Caucus/Association (AALC/A). Includes profiles of the Asian/Pacific American library leaders who established these organizations and…

Reviews the brief history of Chinese Americans in the United States and their contributions to librarianship. Describes the origin, purpose, programs, and activities of the Chinese American Librarians Association. (Contains 44 references.) (AEF)

Describes American Library Association's involvement in adult and literacy education from support for adult education programs to encourage reading in the 1920s to more recent emphasis on services to illiterates, the disadvantaged, and nontraditional users. Continued support from the association for literacy programs is expected to continue…

Discusses an apparent case of censorship via card catalog indexing in a Florentine research library. The challenge to the authenticity of a fresco by Simone Martini is explained, the ethics of collegiality are considered, and attempts to find redress through various library associations are recounted. (18 references) (LRW)

Explores recent developments and future prospects in the area of professional development for special librarians and information service professionals. Formal education and continuing education programs are discussed; activities of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) are described; several case studies are reviewed; and the SLA's graduate…

Analyzes the impact of the rising cost of materials on academic libraries as reflected in members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). Highlights include total library expenditures; materials expenditures; comparisons with price indexes; and the impact of journal…

Examines the impact of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) on education for library and information science and its efforts to influence the field. Highlights include themes historically pursued by ALISE, recent association initiatives, its probable future directions, and its relationships with other professional…

Examines library service to young people in rural libraries in New York State with references to services provided by rural libraries and librarians in other parts of the nation. Planning, standards, collection development, selection of culturally diverse materials, work with preschoolers, computer literacy, and library associations are discussed.…

Discusses the current environment in which health information is disseminated. Topics addressed include health information versus patient education; a model for examining delivery of consumer health information; the role of library professional associations; national libraries; public libraries; hospital libraries; academic health sciences…