With the continued growth and evolution of distance education at many colleges and universities, academic librarians must be prepared to respond to the changing needs of distance users. This article discusses the results of a utilization assessment of distance instructors at five midsized American universities. The results inform libraries about…

The literature on marketing library resources to distance students reaches back to at least the mid-1980s based on a simple EBSCOHost search across over 40 different databases. Authors of this study sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of what our colleagues have learned via research about this critical topic. Because the Web, as we…

"Special Libraries, Special Challenges" is a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and opportunities that arise in special libraries.…

This case study describes the development, implementation, and assessment of a series of grants research workshops for graduate students, which were implemented to fill a gap in graduate student support. We assessed the workshops through a series of focus groups, and findings show overall satisfaction with the grants tools and workshop. However,…

The institution of a Library Outreach Program concept is primarily a job of selling teachers on the utilization of librarians' ability and training, and strengthening the clerical staff to relieve librarians to work more closely with teachers. (Author)

The Library Outreach Program Committee at Western Washington University serves as a coordinating body for outreach activities to the non-departmental campus community. Successful projects include collaboration with New Student Services/Family Outreach, Academic User Technology Services, and Residential Life. A database of outreach activities…

This paper discusses access to special collections at the State University of New York at Oswego (SUNY Oswego) library. Topics addressed include the role of student interns in processing materials; outreach programs, including a planned workshop for fourth grade teachers; library instruction sessions that allow students to examine new…

Due to altering student and university needs, orientation librarians must now endeavor to innovate and change in order to effectively train students to use the library. A more professional image (currently lacking among many librarians), greater faculty and administration usage, and the utilization of the "outreach concept" will all contribute…

Discussion of library outreach services in academic libraries focuses on experiences at the University of Michigan. Topics addressed include a changing student population; evaluating student needs, including bibliographic instruction; analyzing campus context; examining resources available to the library; and outreach guidelines, including…

To promote more effective use of the library by the undergraduates at the University of Colorado, Boulder, a program was implemented within the departments of history and economics to improve liaison between faculty and library personnel. Two subject librarians were appointed who would work half-time in their respective undergraduate departments…

As part of a strategic planning process, Northwestern University Library appointed a User Education Task Force to address the challenges and opportunities facing its library user education program. The overriding goal was to create an action plan for positioning the library to be an active partner in the educational and research processes of the…

Librarians at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) offer CD-ROM database and online catalog training using a portable unit composed of a laptop computer, modem, LCD panel, and overhead projector. This unit allows librarians to make presentations to large groups and to demonstrate to faculty and students the relevancy of library technology.…