Many librarians work in public libraries to make a difference for children, families, and communities and identify family and community engagement as a cornerstone of their responsibilities. For librarians to be successful they must be afforded strong foundations in family and community engagement that begin early in their preparation. Yet little…

A recent American Library Association (ALA) report has shown that less than 1% of credentialed librarians are African American males. This article discusses possible reasons for this dearth; and, in an effort to inform future LIS recruiting and marketing campaigns, the included study attempted to discover which factors lead African American males…

Deals with the historical role of public libraries in the United States especially relating to the poor; the commitment on the part of libraries to serve the underserved growing out of the turmoil of the Sixties and the War on Poverty, and the effect of changing inner-city populations on the future role of libraries. (Author)

This overview traces the history of storytelling, outlines the development of storytelling in public libraries, discusses some contemporary master storytellers, presents some current practitioners of the craft, explores the controversy between the traditional and multimedia methods of storytelling, and surveys American Library Association (ALA)…

Introduces a series of articles reporting progress made in library services to the Spanish speaking in the past eight years, despite the undeniable discrimination that exists against the Hispanic-heritage librarian and the delivery of library and information services to this ethnic group. Each article is followed by an interview with a Hispanic…

This review traces the history of the public library's role in the diffusion of information about American culture, surveys the influence of that role on library education, and describes five models which reflect the range of cultural roles presently being fulfilled in libraries and which identify the knowledge and skills librarians need to…

Discusses meeting the needs of learners in United Kingdom libraries. Topics include the role of the public library; barriers to learning; implications for libraries; motivation to learn; motivating learners in libraries; meeting users' learning needs; and training for librarians. (LRW)

Provides historical background and describes the change in the role of Russian libraries from conduits for party propaganda to organizations designed to serve the needs of their users. Considers problems for library educators in providing librarians with the skills needed in the new political and technological environment of post-Communist Russia.…

The socioeconomic makeup of the community served by the Mott Public Library, Toledo, Ohio is described in detail. An account of the library's services and programs, in connection with their "disadvantaged" patrons, as well as the author's personal difficulties in establishing a citizens' advisory committee and an unsuccessful branch…

Identifies six areas of children's librarianship that need attention: definition of the role of children's librarians; clarification of the goals and worth of children's services; an improved professional image; determination of the appropriate education to enable librarians to meet changed circumstances; and a better understanding of what…

Reviews 18 articles on Israeli libraries published between 1978 and 1995. Highlights concerns about the lack of a clear national role for the Jewish National and University Library, the slowness of libraries to adopt MARC standards, a weak national policy on public libraries, slow development of school libraries, and the limited professional…

Describes a survey of public librarians that examined their understanding and use of bibliographic instruction and their beliefs about the role of instruction in reference services. No consensus was found, but respondents' views seemed to be mediated by training in bibliographic instruction, library size, and the library's policy on user…

Discusses the role of the public library in adult lifelong learning and literacy programs in light of federal legislation. Topics include funding issues; the librarian's role in fostering attitudes of creation and recreation; and the role of education for librarianship in preparing graduates for work with adult lifelong learners. (Contains 49…

This is the second and final year report on the CLASP (Central Massachusetts Library Administration Simulation Project) which developed and tested a simulation model that would enable library personnel to learn and practice skills of negotiation, decision making, budgeting, and program planning. Specific program objectives were: (1) to upgrade the…

Papers on the management of African library associations and services which were presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference include: (1) "The Contribution: The Zimbabwe Library Association" (Stanley M. Made); (2) "Libraries and Information Services in the Third World in Danger: The Case of Tanzania" (E. Kaungamno); (3)…