Examines what differences libraries and librarians make, primarily from the perspective of geographical communities. States reasons why this is an essential research issue and describes contributions of current public library planning tools to the determination of impact. Examines the framework that is essential for the intellectual development of…

Explores three contexts of librarians' professional work and their impact on the link between librarians and their work: social and cultural forces, other competing occupations, and competing organizations and commodities. Concludes that the central challenge to the profession lies in embracing various information technologies and the groups that…

Notes that while youth services programs seem to be diminishing in importance in library schools across the country, the need for them is increasing. Discusses why youth services is an essential core service in public libraries. Illustrates the professional value of youth services skills. Examines reasons why Library/Information Science schools…

Examines how an academic library (Bowling Green State University) "insourced" (retaining services/providing services for others) operations such as photocopying, snack vending, library science education, management of a book depository, and cataloging for another institution. Includes examples of unsuccessful attempts to insource. (PEN)

This paper explores library evaluation in Australia and proposes a return to research fundamentals in which evaluators are asked to consider the centrality of philosophical issues and the role of different research methods. A critique of current evaluation examples demonstrates a system-centred, quantitative, input/output focus which fails to…

This guide is a general introduction to school libraries with specific information for libraries in Alaska. More than 60% of the nearly 500 public schools in Alaska have fewer than 200 students, and it is not unusual to find school libraries staffed by people with little or no preparation. This guide answers many frequently asked questions. The…

Through a comparison of the historical perspectives of medieval and modern libraries, this paper is designed to clarify the purpose and goals of the library, and to promote a public and intellectual debate to guide future developments. The Middle Ages were chosen because libraries possessed an importance and centrality to learning, civilization,…

For the purpose of this bibliography, international librarianship focuses on the role of information in society, and the methods of its acquisition, processing, retrieval, and dissemination across national boundaries by means of international library cooperation through the formulation and development of common standards, policies, and practices.…

As the field of educational technology developed, the field of library science became increasingly concerned about audiovisual media. School libraries have made significant developments in integrating audiovisual media into traditional programs, and are becoming learning resource centers with a variety of media; academic and public libraries are…

Described are the aims, goals, and methods of literature search of the Mechanized Library Information System serving West Coast locations of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. Brief reports on two pilot programs, one on information awareness, and the other on a capability profile system for locating key personnel, are included. The first program…

Project BALLOTS is a large-scale library automation development project of the Stanford University Libraries which has demonstrated the feasibility of conducting on-line interactive searches of complex bibliographic files, with a large number of users working simultaneously in the same or different files. This report documents the continuing…

This annotated bibliography includes selected items on public, school, university, and special music libraries and librarianship 1937 - 1973. Publications are primarily in the English language, with a few in French. Coverage extends to music library administration, acquisition of materials (including musical editions, performance parts,…

The goal of this programmed textbook is to increase efficiency in the use of the University of Colorado libraries through the aid of programmed learning techniques as a means of teaching basic library procedures. The chapters are divided into separate frames, each containing information on some aspect of library usage. These include: the public…

Some of the professional impressions gained from a month in the United States by a British librarian are summarized in this report. Six library school libraries and the Library of the American Library Association were visited. The greater emphasis on bibliographic and reference material allows students in the United States more frequent access to…

This essay on the future of reference librarianship addresses elements necessary to guarantee continued vitality of the profession. Discussion covers person-to-person contacts with library users, recreational functions of library, fees and "information stamps," organizational structure of library, information consulting, project-team…