Reference services in public libraries are changing dramatically. The Internet, online databases, and shrinking budgets are all making it necessary for non-traditional reference staff to become familiar with online reference tools. Recognizing the need for cross-training, Chesapeake Public Library (CPL) developed a program called the Database…

Ask Here PA is Pennsylvania's new statewide live chat reference and information service. This article discusses the key strategies utilized by Ask Here PA administrators to recruit participating libraries to contribute staff time to the service, the importance of centralized staff training, the main aspects of staff training, and activating the…

Twenty-three scholarly papers and twelve abstracts comprise the content of the eleventh annual Brick and Click Libraries Symposium, held at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. The peer-reviewed proceedings, authored by academic librarians and presented at the symposium, portray the contemporary and future face of…

Library networks place a demand on the reference librarian to know the potential of all information resources within the network. (PF)

Describes customer call centers that provide customer service and support in business and considers how their routines could be adapted to library operations. Topics include centralized staff; interactive voice response; automated call distribution; question analysis; sophisticated software; training and monitoring; telephone reference; and…

This second compilation of library network acronyms and initialisms cites 61 networks throughout the United States. Each annotated entry includes the network's acronym or initials, name, and address. A source of further information is cited in many entries, and an ED number is given for references available through the Educational Resources…

Briefly describes the functions of the national library network in Bangladesh. (FM)

Lack of adequate administration is concluded to be the main cause of Network inefficiency and ineffectiveness. Some of the recommendations for improvement of Network administration are: (1) The Colorado State Library (CSL) should remain the central agency for administration of the Statewide Reference Network (SRN). CSL should accept responsibility…

Comments based on actual reference use of Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN II)--formerly BALLOTS--in a library environment focus on RLIN files, interlibrary loan, search keys, and subject searches. This article updates a description of BALLOTS as it was developed by Stanford University to support cataloging and acquisitions (Online,…

Details the current organization and functions of the various components of the British Library, with the exception of central administration. Included are the library board, reference division, lending division, bibliographic services division, and research and development department. (FM)

Since bibliographic services cannot be provided individually, it is this that offers the greatest potential for networking. This paper is concerned with the degree of success that libraries have in providing physical access to materials on the local level. Libraries do provide from their collections a large percent of items requested. If…

Designed to assist legislators and legislative staff in using the New York State Library more effectively, this handbook provides a description of what the library is, what it has to offer, and how to use it. Specifically, sections are devoted to (1) the Library itself--general facts, descriptions, locations; (2) special services for the…

In 1976 research was undertaken to assess the progress of the Ohio multicounty cooperative library programs since the authorization by legislation in 1969 of the Area Library Service Organizations (ALSO). This report makes recommendations to assist library development staff and multicounty cooperative project directors to improve planning,…

Describes an evaluation of Iowa's statewide teletype reference service operated primarily by library school students. (PF)