Describes the Interactive Reference Assistance project developed at the University of Michigan to provide remote reference service for students in campus residence halls through the use of specialized software, desktop computers, and desktop cameras that allowed video and audio links directly to library reference staff. (LRW)

Virtual tours delivered via the Web have become a common tool for both instruction and outreach. This article is a case study of the creation of a virtual tour for a university library and is intended to provide others interested in creating a virtual tour of their library the opportunity to learn from the mistakes and successes of fellow…

Examines the relationship between bibliographic instruction and reference services in academic libraries. Highlights include historical definitions for the two services; results of a survey of academic librarians that investigated how they are connecting the two services; and recommendations for improving the teaching of information literacy at…

Government information librarians value instruction as a way to promote their collections and meet their users' information needs. Government information librarians must choose the most appropriate model for their audience and for the relevant learning outcomes in each instruction session they teach. This article discusses three models for…

Reports results of a random sample of 120 community college library directors regarding the availability of bibliographic instruction (BI), BI program goals and objectives, the nature of BI programs, adaptations for special constituencies, and trends and institutional characteristics. Findings are compared to American Library Association standards…

Discusses values that are needed by academic libraries as they focus on learning rather than teaching in an increasingly digitized environment. Highlights include making connections to a wide range of information and ideas; and being conducive to offering easy access to library resources, including promoting library collections and services. (LRW)

Discusses commuter college students; presents a model to help librarians offering bibliographic instruction better accommodate commuter students that includes services for students, programs to interact with students, advocacy for students, and appropriate research; and considers faculty impact on commuter students. (LRW)

Discusses challenges and results of integrating hands-on DIALOG labs into several Stanford University undergraduate courses (small library-oriented course, small subject-specific seminar, large health policy lecture course) to arouse student interest in information retrieval strategies and "demystify" computer searching. Evaluation of…

Discussion of ways libraries deal with patrons with various disabilities focuses on a project that investigated the effects of bibliographic instruction on mentally retarded adults using public libraries. Evaluation of the instruction by examining patrons' use of their library cards is described, and results of pretests and posttests are…

Describes adoption of microcomputer tutorial for library orientation at state-owned school of approximately 2,800 students. Highlights include advantages and disadvantages of microcomputer-assisted instruction, production of tutorial software, the program, evaluation, and revisions. Goals for library instruction and sampling of questions used to…

This essay offers suggestions to make online public access catalogs (OPACs) less idiosyncratic and more usable. Discussion covers qualitative difference between online catalog and predecessors, challenge of debunking assumptions, skills for success, maintaining an instructional perspective, catalog development for the people by the people, and the…

Presents comments by faculty members asked to introduce new colleagues to how they and their students use library services and materials. Three approaches to the incorporation of bibliographic instruction into science courses are outlined: a research paper importance and citation rate exercise; a library resource location exercise; and the library…

Discussion of library outreach services in academic libraries focuses on experiences at the University of Michigan. Topics addressed include a changing student population; evaluating student needs, including bibliographic instruction; analyzing campus context; examining resources available to the library; and outreach guidelines, including…

This case study chronicles the rise and fall of a typical academic library program of bibliographic instruction. Accompanying commentary examines the case from marketing point of view and suggests procedures that academic libraries could implement to develop services which would result in a higher degree of user satisfaction. (17 references) (EJS)

A task force at Northwestern University Library reviewed utility of a slide-tape program in new student orientation, and created an updated version for library use. The year-long project combined planning, goal-setting, budgeting, studying equipment and techniques, script-writing, selecting appropriate slides, and integrating all parts into a…