As academic libraries struggle to remain relevant when technological advancements and electronic resources threaten to make them obsolete, libraries are learning to re-invent themselves by molding and adapting staff skills to cultivate innovative outreach programs. The Science Outreach Committee of the John D. MacArthur Campus library at Florida…

The Authors@UF program series emerged to showcase the scholarship and creativity of faculty, creating an intellectual forum within the academic library, and providing informal, extra-curriculum, academic engagement between students and faculty outside the classroom. This article identifies steps to launch an author program, and considerations in…

A 3-year project to generate awareness and utilization of the nontraditional services offered by the Florida public libraries is described. The presentation is divided into two sections: an overview of the program to date and examples from the media campaign. Within section 1, three distinct phases of the project are identified and described:…

Argues that the entrance of research libraries into the "arena," i.e., the area of public responsiveness, is a necessary adjustment to current realities. The special situations of patron-sponsored, affiliated, and independent research libraries are discussed in this light, using the Folger Library in Washington, D.C., as an example. (JD)

Focuses on a nationally run reading and discussion program called "Let's Talk about It" as an example of the kind of community outreach program that universities could employ to the mutual advantage of institutions and the public that they serve. (RS)

Student athletes at Penn State have been identified and targeted as an underserved population, and over the past year a new outreach program has been created and piloted to meet their needs. The student athletes share the characteristics of distance learners much of the time and present a number of challenges to the librarians who serve as mentors…

The first section of this guide about literacy programs in Texas features background information about literacy, including a definition of literacy; literacy statistics; a fact sheet about literacy in the United States; developmental stages of literacy; Kohl's four stages of literacy; characteristics of successful programs; barriers to and methods…

Describes major influxes of immigrant populations in the United States in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, their impact on library services, and literacy programs for multicultural populations established during this time period. Questions about past and current missions of the public library are considered, and the work of librarian…

Describes how family literacy programs help increase adult literacy levels, broaden reading skills for children, and foster good reading habits for all family members. The recipients of Bell Atlantic/American Library Association Family Literacy Project grants are listed, their programs are summarized, and 11 clues that can help determine a…

This investigative study, through a questionnaire survey, was conducted to determine if public libraries in Ohio saw a need for library programs/outreach to the homeless, and if, indeed, any libraries had a structured program to serve the special needs of the homeless population. One library from each Ohio county was selected through systematic…

Adults cannot be induced to go "back" to school but they can be assisted in continuing their education. The school, the university, forums, discussion groups, libraries, newspapers, magazines, the radio, and the motion pictures all have roles to play in making education a continuing process for adults. The public forum demonstrations,…