Public libraries can be instrumental in creating a learning society and alleviating the problems pointed out in "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform," the report of the National Commission on Excellence in Education. In fact, public libraries have always played an important role in the nation's education and will…

Details the design, financial support, organizational structure, and evolution of a program to facilitate the automation of small public libraries in Massachusetts and to promote resource sharing among those libraries. A sidebar by Governor Dukakis expresses his views on the role and importance of libraries. (MES)

Describes the results of Flossmoor Public Library's long-range planning initiatives for youth services, which has resulted in improvements in collection development and programing. Evaluation procedures and techniques were recognized as valuable learning tools to increase the effectiveness of services, enhance communication with the board and…

Discussion of the NREN (National Research and Education Network) and issues of access focuses on the role of the public library. Highlights include current uses of the Internet; resource sharing; guidelines for public library service; availability of the Internet and NREN through public libraries; and a sidebar that lists sources of further…

Five articles present an overview of trends and issues affecting rural libraries. The areas discussed include the status of rural library services; outreach programs; the role of library cooperation in the support of rural library service; the development of rural information centers; and political marketing of the rural library. (CLB)

Presents an interview with two librarians who are participating in joint-use projects, one between a public library and a school library, and one between a public library and an academic library. Personnel, commingling collections, changing library roles, and governance boards are considered. (LRW)

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Division for Libraries and Community Learning frequently receives requests for information on the legality and desirability of combining school and public libraries. The purpose of this publication is to help communities and school districts determine whether a combined school and public library…

Describes four peer networking projects initiated by school library media specialists in Georgia that promoted curriculum development, collection development and library services, cooperation between school and public libraries to share online resources, and cooperation between public and school libraries to share magazine articles. (LRW)

The purpose of this document is to help communities and school districts determine whether a combined school and public library will be the best way to provide the most efficient library service for all community residents. A combined school and public library is one that is located in a single facility and operates cooperatively to perform the…

Considers the implications of community connections by examining a coalition developed by the Pekin Public Library (Illinois): the Pekin Intergenerational Network (PIN). Highlights include recognizing the need for coalitions; developing a team; and evaluating the coalition's progress. (AEF)

Defines the concept of the virtual library, reviews factors in its inception, indicates prerequisites for its success, and explores the implications of the concept for librarianship, with an emphasis on the school library media center. (49 references) (KRN)

This report discusses selected issues regarding public library Internet connectivity, costs, and use. It discusses the implications of the "1997 Public Libraries and the Internet" study and presents policy recommendations related to the study's findings. This report suggests the importance of federal policy and library management in…