AskNow! online answers Australia-wide, the first nation-wide chat reference service, has been a successful exercise in collaboration and cooperation. This article examines some of the lessons learnt, the challenges of collaboration and possible future directions. AskNow!, an initiative of the Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL), commenced…

This report is based on information from the Federal Libraries and Information Centers Survey, FY 1994. Data in this report came from federal libraries and information centers that meet certain criteria, which includes having at least one paid part-time or full-time principal staff person. Nationwide, 94.1% of the libraries and information centers…

The documents in this package focus on the three basic questions raised by Watergate: (1) Should President Nixon have been impeached?; (2) Should he have been prosecuted?; and (3) Should he have been pardoned? These documents do not begin to tell the whole story of Watergate, but they do suggest some of the issues involved. "Suggestions for…

The Library Statistics Cooperative Program collects statistics about all types of libraries--academic libraries, public libraries, school library media centers, state library agencies, federal libraries and information centers, and library cooperatives. The Library Statistics Cooperative Program depends on collaboration with all types of libraries…

To aid the public in obtaining information and documents from the files of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this guide, written with assistance from the FCC staff, explains which office to approach and in what form to make the request. Ways to obtain informaion by visiting the FCC are explained along with methods for obtaining…

A plan is presented for a long-range research program, the objective of which will be to identify technical information problems and policies relating to Federal libraries and information services, to determine priorities among those issues requiring attention, and to develop research designs for each project recommended. The program is presented…

Canada's major scientific and technical information resources are supported largely by the Federal Government. They consist of libraries, data files, specialized information centers, and field services. The Canadian Government has no overall policy concerning the handling of scientific and technical information. The need for a national information…

This Handbook explains the services and policies of the Library and Information Division. Since October 1957, the Public Housing Administration, the Federal Housing Administration and the Office of the Administrator Libraries were consolidated into one Library. The Program Information Center was added, additional Regional Office libraries were…

Summarizes ten papers presented during the 15th annual clinic entitled "Problems and Failures in Library Automation," sponsored by the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Graduate School of Library Science. (MBR)

Needs assessment in legislative libraries has three critical components: a well-thought out strategy to identify what should be understood about Members' research and information needs, expectations and preferences; a range of reliable, effective and appropriate methods to find this critical information; and ways of building what is learned into…

This paper formulates the means for an improved role for all citizens through a dynamic and interactive parliamentary library and information system. It illustrates the success of such a proposal to strengthen the legitimacy of parliaments by referring to the experience of the Congress of the Republic of Peru and explains what is being done to…

Reviews recent legislative changes regarding U.S. information policy. An analysis of recommended changes is presented for the following federal agencies: General Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Joint Committee on Printing, and the Government Printing Office. (JLB)

Outsourcing has been proposed as a method for improving effectiveness and productivity in Australian public library service. Developments, drawbacks, and potentials are discussed, and differences between contracting out whole services as opposed to selected activities are examined. (AEF)

This bibliography provides librarians and local government officials with information on managing both current and historical local records. The bibliography is selected, not comprehensive, and emphasizes Alaskan sources. Approximately 75 resources are listed in the following categories: (1) bibliographies; (2) books; (3) journals; (4)…

The Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Amendments of 1990 required the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the Department of Education's Research Library, which is a component of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). Data were gathered by reviewing several existing studies of alternatives for…