Examines two issues to determine how they affect delivery of consumer health information: (1) Who is responsible for disseminating consumer health information, and what role should public and health science libraries play? (2) Should librarians (public or health science) provide medical reference works for general public? Thirty-five references…

Describes methods for stretching a popular adult library materials budget. Highlights include prepurchase evaluation and selection; acquisitions; fund raising to support selection funds; distribution; weeding; promotion; and lobbying. (Author/AEF)

Report on a survey of 462 public librarians highlights existing bibliographic practices in managing nonbook media in library collections; attitudes about nonbook media as information sources (cost, informational value, storage and use); and attitudes about bibliographic access to nonbook media (integrated catalogs, classification schemes). Eleven…

Describes some of the confusing aspects of the Bibliography Section (Z Class) of the Library of Congress Classification system and recounts the preparation of a key showing a comparison of the A through P classes with their corresponding Z numbers. The comparative classification key is appended. (JL)

How the Sellers Memorial Library added over 3,000 new items to its file at a cost of under one hundred dollars is told. (NH)

This article suggests sources of vertical file material and the limitations and potentialities of such files, and the importance of sleuthing and pressing for acquisitions. (MF)

Suggests guidelines for library service to college and high school debaters: (1) learn how educational debate is structured; (2) assess the level of debate activity in the area; (3) determine appropriate levels of service; (4) evaluate and/or supplement existing resources; (5) provide services required; and (6) provide recognition. (37 references)…

Describes results of a survey of members of the Association of Research Libraries that was conducted to determine what procedures are followed to obtain current reference books in foreign languages and to assess the libraries' satisfaction with those procedures. Standing order plans are discussed, and proposals to improve reviewing sources are…

The Reference Department of San Diego State University arranged its humanities and social science materials and posted signs in such a way that the large volume of directional questions was substantially reduced. (LS)

Describes Learning Is for Everyone (LIFE), a library program of the Altoona Area Public Library, Pennsylvania, that serves mentally retarded persons of all ages and ability levels, parents, teachers, and advocates of retarded citizens, as well as the general public. Through the use of multimedia materials, programing, and community programs, the…

Reports the results of an informal survey of reference librarians in large and medium-sized public and academic libraries who were asked how they kept up-to-date on reference materials and techniques. The roles of professional reading, staff meetings, staff information sharing, and conferences and workshops are discussed. (Author/JL)

Reference materials used by librarians responding to reference requests and by patrons at the Iowa State University Library were analyzed to determine which subject areas of the collection received greatest use, and whether subject areas and types of materials used by librarians differed from those used by patrons. (19 references) (MES)

A study of the collection of college catalogs at a medium-sized university library found that they are used by many types of clients in addition to undergraduates; users need a current, comprehensive collection and are not bothered by a lack of shelf order; use is enough to justify the collection. (Author/EM)

Argues that current library policy and practice of insuring interlibrary loan transactions are inconsistent and confusing. Responsibility for loss in various situations is defined, methods of valuation for loaned materials are discussed, and the need for insuring theses and dissertations is questioned. (Author/JL)

Describes a computer-based media index designed at California State University in Los Angeles which can access elements of the library's nonprint materials collection. The media index has separate indexes for titles, subjects, and added entries. (FM)