Reviews the evolution of library community service patterns in reference and adult services, recognizes the fluidity of community information needs in terms of library response, research, and technology, and discusses questions pertaining to service innovations. References are included. (FM)

Highlights some of the conditions affecting rural and small libraries and describes their roles in providing information services. Results of two research investigations report that for many Americans, the community library is perceived as a place for books and is used primarily by women. The complete survey instruments and results are appended.…

Argues that providing end users with more information does not really address their problems and, in fact, does not even identify them. Topics discussed include the growth of information technology, reasons for the decline in the number of reference librarians, roles of libraries, and the importance of information intermediaries. (MES)

This discussion of the impact of technological developments on information services highlights the influence of growth and development of video and electronic media on library, use of new media in comprehensive learning assistance centers, problems related to adoption of new technologies, and library role in adult education. (19 references) (EJS)

Three fundamental problems underlie most research in health sciences librarianship: determining what therapies are effective and of good quality, delivering information when and where it is needed, and in forms that will increase its use. Developments in health information research will be advanced through collaboration across disciplines and…

Using a broad definition of literacy as the skills needed to function effectively in society, the public library's role in providing job information is described. Specific examples of services providing career choice or change information, job-hunting skills, and career development skills in a number of public libraries are provided. (EM)

Libraries should be active participants in knowledge production, and should develop classificatory structures that support the needs of a diverse information ecology consisting of a complex web of interacting agents, users, and technologies. Within such an information ecology, a classificatory structure cannot follow a one-size-fits-all paradigm,…

The complexity of the information environment, and more uncontrolled distribution and access, lead to new issues for users. Reference services, with a stronger instructional role, must become more proactive in providing a fully developed repertoire of services responsive to the multifaceted queries facing librarians today. (Contains 31…