For two professions so committed to meeting the needs of readers, publishers and librarians have distinct cultures. Put simply, one culture is all about developing and selling books; the other is about sharing them and fostering a culture of reading. But there is another basic difference, too. Publishers work closely with authors and use sales…

While some professions maintain strong professional boundaries, public librarianship remains a field in which a significant number of those delivering service do not have library degrees. In this article, the author discusses the results of a new hiring practices survey from "Library Journal" ("LJ"). The survey, coupled with…

If there is to be a great debate" within librarianship, statement or restatement of objectives should be the starting point, not the possibilities of applying computers to libraries and information. If professional persons are to have influence over the future of society, a great debate must soon begin. (2 references) (Author/NH)

A roundup of events and trends in the library world which have made news in the past twelve months. (Author)

She is still in the wings, but once Sharon (Sherri) McQueen arrives on the stage of library education, innovation will surely follow. McQueen comes across like a fast-forward version of Katharine Hepburn's Bunny Watson without the fear of technology. Funny and clever, she seamlessly trades her comedy mask for tragedy when she turns to the future…

In this article, the author revisits 11 graduates who were profiled as part of LJ's annual Placements & Salaries issue. Armed with a library science degree from various institutions, they had just secured jobs in librarianship and were off to a good start forging their careers. Since then, they have worked at elementary school, college, and…

Despite setbacks and hazards, libraries today are a more vital and a more appreciated part of our lives than ever before. (Author/NH)

Explores the concept of the "professional" in librarianship, the right mix of professional and support staff in libraries, librarians doing clerical work, professional credentials, and staffing changes resulting from technological advancement. (PEN)

The 19 essays presented were written at Library Journal's" request to respond to the article Social Responsibility vs. The Library Bill of Rights" by David Berninghausen which appeared in the November 15, 1972 issue of LJ (p3675-81). It is recommended that readers refer back to the Berninghausen article when they read these essays.…