The time and resources required to prepare archival collections for use by researchers is a source of constant frustration in archives and libraries. Almost always, aspirations and collections exceed limited resources. The last fifteen to twenty years have seen archivists and librarians putting great effort into increasing standardization and…

Libraries are learning hubs that connect families to free resources, activities, and services to cultivate children's learning about topics that excite them. Despite recent technological developments which have revolutionized how we read and access information, libraries continue to evolve in order to serve their communities, especially families…

At the heart of digital scholarship are universal questions, lessons, and principles relating both to the mission of higher education and the shared values that make an academic library culture. But while global in aspirations, digital scholarship starts with local culture drawn from the community. Editors Chin Roemer and Kern invite you into…

This article describes the author's (an elementary school librarian) journey as she researched various bike bookmobile programs in the United States. Though the three programs had different target audiences, all the bike bookmobiles that she observed generated excitement and interest in reading. Public interest for each program was high. People…

In 2000, Eastern Washington University became part of the Cascade Consortium and participated in consortial borrowing through the Cascade Union Catalog. In 2003, the Orbis and Cascade consortia merged into the Orbis Cascade Alliance, which manages the Summit Union Catalog. Since 2000, Cascade or Summit consortial borrowing has increased while…

This article describes the card-sorting techniques used by several academic libraries, reports and discusses the results of card-sorting usability tests of the Western Michigan University Libraries' Web site, and reveals how the WMU libraries incorporated the findings into a new Web site redesign, setting the design direction early on. The article…

This article features the Pierce County Library System (PCLS) in Tacoma, where new services are changing the way customers experience the library. PCLS is comprised of 17 branches, two bookmobiles, one Explorer Kid's bookmobile, serves 509,000 people, and has 234,000 cardholders. The evolution of customer expectations and needs motivated the…

The state of Washington studied ways to deliver library materials by mail, with patrons ordering from a Sears-type catalog of materials. Investigation techniques included a literature search, on-site observations, personal interviews, statistical analyses, mathematical modeling, and computer simulation. It was concluded that mail order book…

This study was limited to juvenile library collections and was focused on the policies and practices which determined or affected the quality and balance of these collections. Statistical data reflected policies rather than measurements in meeting library standards. Recommendations for the collections included: a written policy should govern…

This report presents a proposed program plan for developing an integrated library network in the State of Washington. The need for such a plan arises from the requirements of Title III of the Library Services and Construction Act and from the increasing demands placed upon libraries and the resulting need to use available resources better. The…

Recognizing the responsibility of library staff members of maintain a pleasant environment for the public in the library, this manual discusses the library user's and library employee's rights under the law and how to protect them. It is arranged alphabetically by the type of problem or emergency that may be encountered. The procedure for handling…

Describes a particular approach to a library problem: the utilization of computer simulation to provide data on how best to serve the citizens of the state of Washington through delivery of library materials by mail, with patrons ordering from a printed catalog of materials. (Author)

Major objectives of the survey were (1) to assess the total library resources of the Yakima Valley area and (2) to consider improving service by coordinating the efforts of libraries in the area. Information was obtained from field visits, interviews, reviewing library reports and documents, a machine count of titles held by the four major…

Describes efforts by the Redmond Library (Washington) to reach out to the senior citizen population by planning an all-day Senior Fair. Transportation, refreshments, an overview of library materials and services including Internet access, tours of the library, craft programs, participation by community groups, and funding are discussed. Sidebar…

Patrons in academic libraries want convenient 24-hour access to full-text journals in a rapid, convenient manner. They want "anytime, anywhere" access to information and they do not want to enter a library to obtain it. This article describes how Eastern Washington University Libraries provide access to full-text journals through several…