This paper divides Philippine library history into three periods, establishing a relationship between historical events and library trends. During the Spanish period, modern library trends were introduced through the establishment of the Sociedad Economica in 1780, but did not influence Philippine library culture until the later part of the 19th…

For over seven decades, library history in Russia has been considered a Soviet branch of science known as the "history of librarianship" and it has been isolated from the world science community. This article examines the degree to which Russian library historians have been isolated from this community and their initial results in…

In the province of Quebec, the role of language and religion has been a significant feature in defining nationality, educating the young, and building infrastructures such as libraries. In contrast to English-Canadian provinces, only after 1960 did the government of Quebec authorize public support for public libraries to serve its francophone…

Oral histories of retired Australian librarians show the sexual division of libraries from pre-1950s to the 1980s. Discussion includes the appeal of on-the-job training; public and private roles of women; the marriage bar; discrimination; lack of skill recognition; wage inequities; feminist resistance; sexual harassment; unions; and electronic…

John Metcalfe was a leader of the Free Library Movement in Australia in the 1930s, becoming a well-known educator, writer, and state librarian. His involvement in national and international library cooperation from the 1940s to the 1960s widened his earlier New South Wales focus. There is a strong democratic focus in Metcalfe's writings on…

Examines Axel Lodewycks' role at the University of Melbourne (Australia) during the period 1959 to 1973. Lodewycks made a significant contribution to the construction of the Baillieu Library building in this period, but was never able to raise his own standing within the university beyond that established by his predecessors. (Author/AEF)

Discusses 50 years' worth of development of librarianship in Pakistan and analyzes the policies and plans made. Reviews the role of library schools and their curriculum in the development of the profession and examines the impact of the information revolution, as well as new dimensions in librarianship. Provides a timeline of plans and…

Places recent developments in German library and archival history in their historical context and summarizes information about collections whose status is likely to continue changing in the near term. The discovery and rehabilitation of five archives are described. The history of German library collections and their destruction and transfer to…

Discusses the early days of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) in Europe, and developments in its usage. Highlights include negotiations between OCLC and France; retrospective conversion; reorganization and restructuring; the gradual approach to international use of OCLC; problems facing European libraries using OCLC; and benefits. (AEF)

This paper traces the history of the toy library, a facility or program created to loan toys to children, parents, child care providers, teachers, and play therapists. Types of toy lending libraries are the community toy library, the supplemental toy library, the cooperative neighborhood toy library, and the mobile toy library. The first toy…

This document is based on transcripts of recorded informal interviews with: (1) selected senior professors in the library schools at Warsaw, Krakow, and Wroclaw (Poland); (2) the director and a member of the Books and Readers Institute of the National Polish Libraries; and (3) a group of Polish librarians and students in the field. The report…

Describes the findings of a 1991 survey of automation in Iranian academic libraries. Findings about libraries participating in the study, including subject area focus, library size, users, staffing, services, and budgets, are presented as a context for information about computer facilities. Copies of the survey in English and Arabic are appended.…