The article reports the results of a survey conducted among the Polish and Lithuanian academics concerning their information needs and expectations regarding academic library websites. The survey was realized using the technique of Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) on a group of scholars representing sciences and humanities or social…

Faculty librarians who advise undecided students have found the experiences of novice researcher and advisee comparable: Both groups seek to solve a problem or answer a question by finding new information to add to their current understanding and knowledge base. As a result, librarians familiar with needs and stages of the research process may…

Information anxiety is a serious issue that has the potential to hinder the success of a large percentage of the population in both education and professional settings. It has become more prevalent as societies begin to focus more on the value of technology, multitasking, and instant information access. The majority of the population has felt, to…

The nature of the information seeking behaviour of the teachers engaged in General Degree Colleges and Teachers' Training Colleges affiliated to West Bengal State University, India, is critically analysed in the present study. The descriptive analysis is based on well structured, close-ended questionnaires which were distributed among 450…

Information literacy is a central tenet of academic librarianship. However, technological advancements coupled with drastic changes in users' information needs and expectations are having a great impact on this service, leading practitioners to wonder how programs may evolve. Based on a Delphi study, this article surveyed 13 information literacy…

Supporting the information needs of researchers adequately is a major challenge for university libraries. This paper outlines results of a survey of 23 researchers conducted by Deakin University Library into their information needs and perceptions of the library's role and performance. The survey challenged established ideas about researchers'…

Contrasts online searching in industry and academia in terms of trust placed in the searcher, numbers of systems/databases searched, comprehensiveness, decision making and dependency, reference interviews and the timeframe for search requests, nature of searches, use of selective dissemination of information, library/quick reference searching,…

Unless library managers assume a leadership role in the information society and truly manage libraries, others will assume the responsibility. Thus far, they have not provided such leadership and have failed to effectively use innovative managerial techniques to administer the library. (RAA)

Libraries transform communities by providing well-organized information resources and services. Conversely, communities can also transform libraries if librarians appreciate the rich diversity of the communities' information needs, acting as bridges between communities as well as enabling and facilitating community-building. The roles of…

Discusses a paradigm for academic librarianship that requires greater sensitivity to and identification with needs of library users. Centrality of library academic community is questioned, noting insistence of librarians on independent status of library and failure of bibliographic instruction programs to make issue of critical thinking top…

This essay focuses on types of health information the public is seeking and sources for obtaining health data. Discussion of librarian's role in providing health information covers legal entanglements, reference interview, collections and services provided by academic health science libraries, hospital libraries, and public libraries, and future…

Discusses a strategy for improving user access to information in academic libraries by articulating the goals of user education and planning programs accordingly, encouraging students to be critical and analytical in evaluating their information needs, and providing library instruction which makes students feel comfortable in the library…

Argues that effective library service must provide access to a broad and unrestricted store of both traditional and popular information materials to serve the educational and informational needs of the public. Extensive lists of literary and audio resources for popular materials are provided, as well as 16 references. (RAA)

This paper describes the situation of the information user in the developing countries of Africa; discusses the role of information resources in national development; delineates the most important functions of national libraries with respect to information dissemination and information utilization; explores the relationship between financial…

Ways in which academic libraries can contribute to strengthening the educational system are examined, and obstacles to be overcome or circumvented are considered. Primary focus is on the generic academic library. An overview is presented on what is known about libraries and learning, and the use of library resources. Several seminal studies are…