Introduces the political issues to be discussed at the first White House Conference on Library and Information Services which will focus on citizen control of the information flow in view of developing demands and technology. A desired political result of the conference is the creation of a citizens' lobby. (SW)

Examines the information-gathering habits of individuals, the communications environment of modern society, and the role of the public library in these contexts. (CWM)

A position statement that underscores the current demand for access to information, the expectation that information will be used to improve people's lives, and the role that school and public libraries play in meeting this demand and expectation. (Author)

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…

The librarian's role in bringing order and understanding to the drug dilemma is described. (Author)

Reexamines Ortega y Gasset's proposition that the professional role of the librarian is to act as a selective "filter between man and the torrent of books." Responsibilities of the librarian in light of the increasing volume of information, increases in speed of access to information, and information overload, are discussed. (Author/JL)

Libraries must be aware of the needs of the users in their funding organization, and yet, there is growing concern among library funding organizations that libraries are not fully coping with the information explosion. In fact, libraries, by not adopting new techniques to become more productive, are actually helping to cause the problems of the…

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…

This article describes the duties of a research librarian appointed to provide a comprehensive information service to the administration of an academic institution. Information, in the sense used here, refers to published information about other institutions and the outside world, not internal data on finance, staff, and students. The resultant…

Reviews studies of clinicians' information-seeking behavior and discusses various library programs and services designed to deliver information to clinicians. Topics discussed include LATCH (Literature Attached to the Chart) services; enduser searching; quality filtering and critical appraisal; clinical information systems; and the impact of the…

This paper describes the major international agricultural information services, sources, and systems; outlines the existing information situation in Tanzania as it relates to problems of agricultural development; and reviews the improvements in information provision resources required to support the process of agricultural development in Tanzania.…

Speeches, papers, and summaries of group discussions from Australia's 1978 national seminar on library services for the visually and physically impaired are presented. The opening and keynote addresses are followed by two papers dealing with the present state of services in Australia and other nations, two papers on the library service needs of…

Discusses electronic information technology and possible effects on research libraries' transition from print-based collections to new configurations. Topics discussed include the effects of printing on the growth and spread of information; limits to dissemination and access; electronic mail (E-mail); and new methods for scholarly publishing and…

In describing the role of Soviet libraries in the satisfaction of information needs of specialists, I.K. Kirpicheva has provided a comprehensive picture of the extensive system for the State System Scientific and Technical Information (SSSTI) in support of the accelerated development of Soviet science and technology. Information needs arising at…

Speeches, papers and summaries of group discussions from Australia's 1981 national seminar on library services for the visually, mentally and physically impaired are presented. The opening speeches are followed by papers on achievement and progress in library services for the handicapped since 1978 (the date of the first national seminar) (W. D.…