There has been longstanding debate about whether the level of complexity of questions received at reference desks and via online chat services requires a librarian's expertise. Continued decreases in the number and complexity of reference questions have all but ended the debate; many academic libraries no longer staff service points with…

In the European parts of Russia (Archangelsk, Belgorod, Vladimir, Voronezh, Kazan, Krasnodar, Penza, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Smolensk, Taganrog, Tambov, Tver, Tolyatti and so on.) there is a lot of pedagogues, who strive to develop media competence among different age groups with different social status. More and more media…

As we move into being a knowledge society, the way an organisation learns can be key to its innovation and profitability. This literature review examines the nature of workplace learning, with a focus on nonprofessional occupations, including those closely associated with workplace training. It identifies the conditions that facilitate workplace…

The authors, using the recently developed Position Classification Inventory, examined male and female perceptions of a nonprofessional occupation. Results suggest that the PCI shows promise as a method of classifying occupations according to J. L. Holland's (1997) theory. (Contains 20 references and 2 tables.) (Author)

Analyzes employment statistics of Association of Research Libraries members, relates data to patterns of library collection growth and decline during those years, and speculates on future staffing. Variables used to measure personnel are the number of professionals, nonprofessionals, full time staff, and ratio of professionals to full time staff.…

Examines the neglect of library support staff within the context of six areas of library management: physical facilities; effective and efficient work stations; supplies; attitude toward human resources; communication and information; and performance evaluation and feedback. Graphs present data on expenditures in several areas, and suggestions for…

The current mental health system suffers from fragmentation and inefficient utilization of all potential mental health resources, and paraprofessionals can be utilized as bridging agents between formal agencies and nonprofessional community caregivers. Arguments for conceptual reorganization of the mental health delivery system are presented,…

Presents a state-of-the-art of the reference interview with emphasis on evaluation. Article discusses the interview in terms of its components and which of them can be measured or evaluated. Components include performance of professionals v nonprofessionals, physical setting, verbal and nonverbal behavior, and user satisfaction. Implications are…

The literature concerning the work experience of faculty members, administrators, and clerical and support staff is reviewed. The experience of these employee groups is examined in relation to: the characteristics of their work and work environment, the extent of their autonomy and power, and their relationship to their institution. In addition,…

This study applied feminist organizational theory to explore the effects of gender structure on perceptions of organizational culture and climate. The study used data from a 1994 survey of permanent, noninstructional staff at a major midwestern university (n=4,800). The research sought to determine: (1) whether gender-dominated organizational…