Each year the State Library sends annual report forms to California's public, academic, special, state agency, and county law libraries. Statistical data from those reports are tabulated in this publication, with directory listings published in the companion volume, "California Library Directory." For this fiscal year, 389 libraries of…

In late 2006, the National Library of Australia (NLA) implemented a trial Instant Messaging (IM) service that ran in parallel with the AskNow chat reference service for a six month period. The trial was a resounding success, proving both a demand for an IM service and the suitability of the medium for reference service provision in a collaborative…

The views of three parliamentary librarians and two academics on the subject of library services to Australian legislators are given in this publication. A variety of viewpoints is given in order to stimulate and provoke reaction from the Members of Parliament for whom the book is basically intended. The five articles included are: (1) "The…

Following the introduction which gives an overall picture of developments in the Library of Congress, the chapters deal specifically with the: (1) processing department, (2) legislative reference service, (3) reference department, (4) law library, (5) administrative department and (6) copyright office. The 14 appendices show, in a figurative…

A summary of the major activities of the Library of Congress (LC) is given for a 15 month period ending September 30, 1976. Highlighted are the activities of the Congressional Reference Service, Processing Department (acquisitions, cataloging, and networking), Federal Library Committee, Copyright Office, Reader Services Department, major exhibits,…

Efforts to improve efficiency, cut red tape, speed operations and provide better service to the user are shown by each reporting department. The Processing Department, for example, adopted a new system of priorities in an effort to get books to the shelves faster and cataloging information to subscribing libraries more promptly. The Reference…

This paper discusses the establishment of a research service in the Norwegian parliament. The first section presents some general assumptions regarding a research service in parliament. The second section describes the first initiative, a mandate in the 1970s to establish a commission to clarify the need for such a service. The third section…

Opening remarks at the Workshop were given by Erik Bromberg, Director of Library Services, and the keynote address was presented by the Hon. Lawrence H. Dunn. Topics covered during the workshop included: a view from the top; Washington to Ann Arbor; Portland to Washington; library services; the Federal Library Committee; the new service of the…

This paper discusses one person's experience with the library and research services of the Australian Federal Parliament. The first section describes the multiple functions and roles of politicians, as well as their various information needs, e.g., the need for information on bills, for overseas travel, for writing speeches, and to develop special…

The prefatory section of the Library of Congress (LC) annual report lists library officers, library committees, consultants, and an organizational chart. The body of the report begins with a narrative overview of recent LC activities in such areas as organizational changes, copyright law, Bicentennial Program, publications, and projects. Separate…

This publication features work presented at the Second Annual Virtual Reference Desk Digital Reference Conference (October 6-17, 2000, Seattle, Washington). These proceedings include papers and presentations by conference presenters representing public, academic, and government libraries, as well as subject-specific AskA services, from the United…

This Handbook explains the services and policies of the Library and Information Division. Since October 1957, the Public Housing Administration, the Federal Housing Administration and the Office of the Administrator Libraries were consolidated into one Library. The Program Information Center was added, additional Regional Office libraries were…

Needs assessment in legislative libraries has three critical components: a well-thought out strategy to identify what should be understood about Members' research and information needs, expectations and preferences; a range of reliable, effective and appropriate methods to find this critical information; and ways of building what is learned into…

A short history of the Library of Congress since its establishment in 1800 is traced in the introduction, which also contains a brief narrative overview of the year's activities including special services, a Bicentennial program, exhibits, publications, appropriations, copyright, and automation. Separate chapters are devoted to the activities and…

Describes the organizational structure of the research unit of the Parliamentary Library of Canada and lists a variety of services offered to Parliamentary members, committees, associations, and delegations. (CLB)