Recovery of significant achievements by exemplary individuals and institutions in public education and librarianship informs our present understanding and motivates future efforts. This narrative history recounts some of the struggles and successes of a great city library when the very conception of a free, public library was still being defined.…

This report summarizes the activities and results of library programs in Texas that received financial support in FY 1987 through the State Library's Statewide Library Development program, which included funds from both the state's general revenues and the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA). Individual TItle I programs described include:…

This study analyzes the impact of library services in five medium-sized communities with differing geographic, economic, and social characteristics and determines the place of the public library within the pattern of city governmental services. Methods used for the study include interviews with community leaders, library trustees, librarians, and…

Forecasts of the future of the public library highlight measures of success (quick information provision); service to remote users; an information infrastructure which includes smaller branch libraries; levels of service based on staff time required; fee-based, interactive research services; a new job title of "information specialist"; and book…

Evaluation of Tanzanian experiences in developing nationwide public library system under conditions of limited resources and unlimited user demands discusses six principles as basis for alternative strategy: liquidating irrelevant librarianship theories; establishing valid performance measures; adopting cost-effectiveness; giving primacy to…

In the future, changes in the composition of communities will require public libraries to shift the emphasis of their service to adults. Growth in technology and the knowledge industry will also require adjustments. Urban, suburban, and rural libraries face differing needs to improve service. The National Program for Library and Information…

In 1968 the Texas State Library established a library communications network under Title III of the Librar y Services and Construction Act. The objective of this study was to evaluate the network after six months of operation. Part I of the study consists of a general evaluation by Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co., based on operational data…

The Illinois project entitled Measurement and Evaluation of Public Library Services is being conducted by the Library Research Center (LRC) at the University of Illinois. The long range goal of the project is to make available meaningful information for the evaluation and improvement of local public libraries. Two immediate objectives are to test…

The Ohio State Library developed a TWX Interlibrary Loan (TWXIL) pilot project in 1971 in order to: (1) produce information that would be helpful in the design and operation of a reference and information network, and (2) produce improvements in library services and sharing of existing resources through the strengthening and limited extension of…

This document includes final summary reports from recent federally funded Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) demonstration projects in California. While some projects reported at length and others provided the bare facts, reports are excerpted but published as received, without editing beyond a uniform first page. The Summary Report Form…

A survey was conducted to determine if California public libraries and systems serving 150,000 or greater populations met certain audiovisual standards established by the American Library Association (ALA). Fourteen public libraries and 11 systems responded to questions covering the criteria. Half the public libraries and the majority of systems…

This document includes final summary reports from 16 recent federally funded Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) projects in California. This volume covers generally the period 1984-85, and reports are presented in six subject areas: programs for children, information and referral projects, institutional services, literacy, local history,…

The operation of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) on-line bibliographic system in Texas and New Mexico Libraries was evaluated. The economic aspects of automated cataloging and card production were compared with previous methods; the effectiveness of the system as a tool for pre-order searching was evaluated; and the impact of the system's…

Fiscal year 1986 activities are summarized in the following reports: (1) Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Executive Summary; (2) Title I Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1985 Carryover; (3) Title III Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1985 Carryover; (4) Title I Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1986; (5) Title III Financial Report--Fiscal Year…

Fiscal year 1985 activities are summarized in the following reports: (1) Titles I and III Performance Report; (2) Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) Executive Summary; (3) Title I Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1984 Carryover; (4) Title III Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1984 Carryover; (5) Title I Financial Report--Fiscal Year 1985; (6)…