Librarians are in a unique position to make available programs of dignity which respond to the educational, enrichment, and information needs of individuals who are not in society's mainstream. (Author/LS)

This discussion of the concept of knowledge reports findings about learning, particularly learning styles and strategies, and explores the potentials and limits of new technologies in the library. The library's role as a "convivial tool" which can enlarge the range of each person's competence is noted. Thirty-four references are…

Explains Unicode, a standard for the representation of multilingual character sets that extends the traditional ASCII (American Standard Code Information Interchange) character set. The consortium that created Unicode is described, integration of Unicode with existing hardware and software is discussed, and the role of librarians in defining…

Libraries could benefit from the businesslike approach of an entrepreneur. Characteristics of entrepreneurial behavior of value to libraries include: moderate risk-taking as a function of skill, not chance; energetic instrumental activity; insistence upon individual responsibility; knowledge of results of decisions; anticipation of future…

Discusses the current problems in interpreting and enforcing Canadian copyright laws, and demonstrates the need for clarification of the roles of both proprietor and user. (JVP)

Discusses the relevance of political power to the library's administration in post-secondary institutions. (CHC)

Discusses the concept of information as a commodity and several approaches to selling information. Problems with the commodification of information are identified, including user fees that exclude the poor, censorship, and educational liabilities. A plan of action for libraries to resist this trend is described. (18 references) (MES)

This overview of school librarianship in Canada focuses on the aim of the school library program, the school librarian's role as teacher-librarian, guidelines and standards for effective service, and district support services. A list of selected readings on these issues is provided. (EJS)

Past studies that apply the sociological definition of professionalism to librarianship are summarized, and recent criticisms of this definition are investigated. Alternative models of professionalism and concepts of theoretical knowledge and service are discussed, and a reexamination of the professional nature of librarians' work is proposed. (23…

Discusses a strategy for improving user access to information in academic libraries by articulating the goals of user education and planning programs accordingly, encouraging students to be critical and analytical in evaluating their information needs, and providing library instruction which makes students feel comfortable in the library…

Examines the relationship between the responsibility of librarians to reject materials that threaten the moral and social values of the community and support for intellectual freedom by the library profession. Criteria that justify the censorship of materials are identified and discussed. (16 references) (CLB)

Explores and critiques an information paradigm that is currently being proposed in the library literature, and looks at its potential impact on research and policy issues of major concern to librarians and library educators. (CLB)

Orr's schema for measuring the quality and value of libraries is described and discussed with respect to three paradoxes--the evaluation of catalogs, optimal library size, and Lenin's view of public libraries in the U.S. Seven references are cited. (CHC)

Discusses the author's report, "The Future of the National Library of Canada," in terms of its scope, intent, and limitations. (CHC)