Examines what differences libraries and librarians make, primarily from the perspective of geographical communities. States reasons why this is an essential research issue and describes contributions of current public library planning tools to the determination of impact. Examines the framework that is essential for the intellectual development of…

Reviews historical development, organization, and current concerns of health sciences librarians who serve in mental health institutions, agencies, and organizations. The mental health field, mental health libraries, education and training, professional status and standards, professional organizations, the library collection, and library…

Contrasts the kinds of staff members found in metropolitan libraries during the past 20 years with the staff needed for the mid-1970's. (Author/PF)

Discusses service standards (level of excellence or adequacy in performance of library service) and their incorporation in the accreditation process for hospital library service and academic health sciences libraries. The certification program developed for health sciences librarians by the Medical Library Association is reviewed. Fifty-nine…

Describes the development, operation, and services of a special unit at the Chicago Public Library that provides reference and research services to professional librarians. Specific reference materials, online databases, and current awareness services are covered. The selection and acquisition of library materials is discussed in some detail. (21…

As the purchase of virtual resources accelerates, particularly through consortial agreements, the autonomy of the local library will fade and the roles of librarians will change drastically. This rapid transformation is illustrated by a discussion of OhioLINK and its positive and negative effects on one member library. (Contains 21 references.)…

Examines three essential questions and suggests areas for research in each: (1) How are digital resource users best served: What resources will they want? How will they want to use them? What services will most enhance use? (2) What elements are required for a coherent preservation strategy covering resources both digital and traditional? (3) What…

In this study, 182 Canadian senior administrators, middle managers, and front-line librarians in public and academic libraries were asked to describe the nature of organizational change in their workplaces and how new technology affected the restructuring. Respondents agreed that financial pressure is driving most change and that technology is a…

Systems analysis can and should be used in any situation where there is a need to measure performance and a reasonable possibility of being able to develop more efficient routines. Increasingly, systems analysis is being used by librarians in other areas of library activity, such as budgeting and management. (29 references) (Author)

Focuses on defining the role of the library director in one-person public, academic, and special libraries. A profile survey of 67 such directors showing their career paths is presented. Data on education and training, staffing, issues of concern, job satisfaction, and demographic characteristics are provided. (Contains 26 references.) (Author/KRN)

Supporting the opinion that "Media Programs: District and School" (1975) is in need of major revision, this paper identifies factors involved in standards for school media programs--terminology, principles, teaching, career development, role of unions, facilities, collection design and management, services, and planning. Twenty-five…

Librarians have paid insufficient attention to the conflict on college and university campuses about the role of print and digital resources in the library of the future. Effective communication with all sectors of the academic community, especially those maintaining a strong loyalty to books, will be essential as hybrid print and digital…

Offers definitions for four general categories of research--practical, bibliographical, scholarly, scientific--and discusses connections of research to librarianship, the introduction of scientific research methodology in librarianship, activities related to scientific research, users of research, faculty status, professional organizations and…

Examines current experience and trends in the roles, functions, and activities of today's library directors, based on a survey of directors of large libraries or library systems. A shift in roles, functions, and activities from predominantly internal affairs to an increasing emphasis on external concerns, including technological, economic, and…

This discussion of the development of library reference service standards and guidelines for service measurement highlights the work of the American Library Association (ALA) Committee on Standards, guidelines adopted by ALA's Reference and Adult Services Division, and efforts of state, public, and university libraries. Fourteen references are…