The paper describes the attempts made in recent years to determine the essential functions of a national library. It considers these functions in relation to the recommendations of the Dainton Committee and the proposals in the White Paper on the British Library. (14 references) (Author/MM)

Discusses how libraries have the potential to support and motivate adults wanting to improve their literacy skills. Reports on a British initiative to bring together libraries and basic skills providers. (Author/JOW)

This paper examines the need for accurate, reliable data on energy, flowing upward to the national government from various energy-intensive information systems. Part I explores the need for a national policy coordinating this flow within both the United States and, for comparative purposes, Great Britain. Part II presents in outline form the…

Psychological barriers that prevent the public from using libraries effectively and efficiently are identified. The problem of receiving too much information is also addressed, and seven steps for obtaining the right information are outlined, including determining exactly what is needed and then asking for help from a reference librarian. (LBH)

After years of cutbacks, the pivotal role of public libraries in providing lifelong learning resources is being recognized. In Britain, a consortium for public-library networking is extending libraries' ability to deliver knowledge-based services. (SK)

The school library in Great Britain has moved from a supportive position to one of major importance as a mode for teaching and learning. (DE)

The three cultures referred to in the title are: the humanities, the sciences, and the social sciences. The theme of the lecture is comparative librarianship. The comparisons are of public library services in different countries, how they are similar and how they differ. His emphasis is on British libraries with which he is most familiar. The…

This paper argues that the multicultural society which exists in Britain today requires libraries to be more sensitive and responsive to the needs of minority groups. It is also pointed out that librarians have a responsibility to project positive images of a multicultural society and that they must face up to the difficult issues of prejudice and…

For several decades there has been a trend towards project work, independent study, and guidance from the lecturer rather than instruction. The library and other polytechnic-wide services, it is argued, can be exploited to produce more effective and economical means of achieving an institution's objectives. (MLW)

Seven of these ten papers are concerned with library research in specific countries; the remaining three deal with library planning and ethics in research. Titles are "The Library as a Cultural Institution," by Jadwiga Kolodziejska, Poland; "The International Seminar 'Book and Library in Society' of the Polish Book and Readers…

Summarizes a BBC Educational Broadcasting Services and Cheshire Libraries project designed to encourage linking of educational broadcasting, libraries, and the community. The project's main aims were to see how libraries could become effective partners in developing interest in adult education and operate as multimedia resource centers for…

Six papers from a seminar on special collections in research libraries address special collections and the scholarly community; the function of special collections in research and education; services and development issues; the evolving character of special collections; special collections in emerging information delivery programs; and the…

Cooperative library programs in Great Britain began with suggestions made in the 1915 Adams report commissioned by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. Following the report's recommendations and with grants from the trust, countries began library services to rural areas and the Central Library for Students (CLS) was formed and later became a…

Resource-based learning (RBL) is one of the most useful, successful, and acceptable approaches to curriculum delivery, easily adapted to different styles of teaching and learning. It brings together all of the resource elements--tutor, learning resources, and student--into a learning partnership. Two essential aspects of RBL are its…