The idea of "reading the room" borrowed from the business world applies to how school library professionals can identify and responsively meet the needs of users. By stepping up to do work even when it is not requested, and yet in alignment with our mission, we can help sustain our library programs.

Mentorship is often considered one of the best ways to develop leadership potential in new library and information professionals. Mentors act as teacher, role model, and cheerleader, but there are potentially serious aspects to mentorships that will negatively impact the protege. Such negatives include mentors sabotaging or taking credit for a…

Academic libraries in Japan are well resourced by international standards, and support Japan's internationally recognized research capability well, but there are also ways in which they reflect Japan's strong bureaucratic culture. Recent changes to the status of national university libraries have seen a new interest in customer service, and…

This paper looks at the challenges presented for the Australian Library and Information Association by its role as the professional association responsible for ensuring the quality of Australian library technician graduates. There is a particular focus on the issue of course recognition, where the Association's role is complicated by the need to…

As the importance of information literacy has gained increased recognition, so too have academic library professionals intensified their efforts to champion, activate, and advance these capabilities in others. To date, however, little attention has focused on advancing these essential competencies amongst practitioner advocates. This paper helps…

The first of two articles discusses the need for a cooperative approach by the curator and conservator to the physical conservation and preservation of meaning of rare books. The second paper considers issues in special collections security and describes some major library thefts of the last 25 years. (MES)

Academic libraries now hire an increasing number of individuals to fill professional librarian positions who do not have the master's degree in library science. Academic libraries are also creating a wide range of new professional assignments that demand diverse educational backgrounds. Additionally, responsibilities formerly carried out by…

Special features include articles about the small public library: (1) the Public Library Association's Small and Medium-Sized Libraries Section; (2) a photo album of small public libraries in Mississippi; (3) small public libraries and public library standards; (4) the role of nonprofessionals; (5) training the nondegreed library worker; and (6)…

Discussion of the professional education of employees in small libraries focuses on the Minnesota Voluntary Certification Program and its core set of domain competencies. The program provides focused professional education for library employees without a master's degree and reinforces the professional values of the library community and libraries.…

Distance education makes library paraprofessional education possible and desirable to meet needs in library staffing. Lexington Community College (LCC) developed online certificate and associate degree programs to meet the legal requirements for Kentucky paraprofessional library staff. In collaboration with the Southeastern Library Network…

This paper discusses the potential of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) to improve the status of women in Great Britain. The first section introduces NVQs and provides historical background. The second section addresses the question: What is an SVQ or NVQ, and what is involved in getting one?…

Provides a historical background to the establishment of library education programs in Ghana and traces the development of the curriculum and current programs of the University of Ghana. Highlights include curriculum changes; current national needs and challenges; and professional, subprofessional, and advanced professional programs. (Author/LRW)

This report describes how courses offered by the Department of Library/Media Technology at Northland Pioneer College (Arizona) can be effective in bridging the gap between the professionally trained master's degree librarian and the untrained library clerk or volunteer. The courses, which are typically offered on weekends, are designed to…

These proceedings of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) meeting on the education of research library personnel contain the following papers: The Conant Report and Its Implications for Academic and Research Libraries, by Ralph W. Conant; Library Education--State-of-the-Art, by Robert O. Stueart; Professional Education and Training--A New…

Describes development of a comprehensive library materials conservation program at Johns Hopkins University's Milton Eisenhower Library by conservator John Dean. Discussion covers Dean's background in conservation, three major areas in the conservation program (conservation bindery, commercial binding office, paper conservation laboratory), a…