How do afterschool programs view their local public libraries? Are they working with them, and in what ways? These are the questions that the Afterschool Alliance, along with its partners at the Space Science Institute's National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) and the American Library Association, wanted to answer. Overall, the goal is to…

The public computing center offers an economical and environmentally friendly model for providing additional public computer access when and where it is needed. Though not intended to be a replacement for a full-service branch, the public computing center does offer a budget-friendly option for quickly expanding high-demand services into the…

The nature of learning in a public library is relevant to what place e-learning and social networking technologies might have there. That a public library aims to provide something for everyone is also important. Alice Springs Public Library (ASPL) is a place of learning; it is also a crowded and composite space. The use ASPL could make of the…

Outreach occurs systemwide at Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC). All branches are involved in reaching their surrounding neighborhoods and patrons. Under the guidance of the outreach manager, the outreach department provides support for these efforts and also offers focused programming via 12 staff members. The department is…

Co-author of the popular titles "Booktalking Bonanza" and "The Early Literacy Kit", Betsy Diamant-Cohen brings together 18 examples of successful outreach partnerships that children's librarians and administrators can adapt to their own situations. Contributors from the U.S and Canada explain how they partnered with schools,…

This article presents and discusses a 3-D online environment known as Teen Second Life. TSL is a virtual environment geared just for youth, ages 13-17. Its social appeal is huge, especially for teens who are developmentally inclined to seek out the company of their peers. In TSL one can meet friends or make new ones, hang out, listen to music and…

To introduce the resources of the public library to young adults, librarians in the Hollywood branches of the Los Angeles Public Library initiated an outreached program called STEP: Special Interest Group, Think Big, Esprit de Corps, and Publicity. Program components are described, and 17 steps are enumerated for implementation. (JPF)

Extension services for older adults offered by the Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie, New York are identified. (Author)

The Saint Paul Public Library and its Friends collaborated to create an identity program as part of its public relations efforts. The work started with a team made up of the library's key administrators and its Public Relations and Communications office, plus Friends' staff and the Friends Board's Public Awareness Committee. In this article, the…

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:…

This issue contains 21 articles discussing library-sponsored literacy programs, tutoring and programming techniques, and state and national efforts. The articles include: (1) "Beyond Decoding: Literacy and Libraries--Introduction" (Amy Spaulding); (2) "Libraries: Natural Centers for Literacy" (Jacqueline Cook); (3) "Kids…

This document includes the text of presentations given at the First Binational Conference on Libraries in California and Baja California, as well as minutes from four roundtables held at the conference. Following a prologue and a brief background on the conference, the following presentations are included: (1) "State Support for Public…

Guidelines are given for expanding library hours so that disadvantaged adults may use library facilities and services on nights and weekends. There are discussions of cost, staffing, security problems, and publicity. Shifting library, bookmobile, and special programs to different hours; moving some programs outside the library; and special…

Focusing on the theme, Outreach Library Services, the articles in this publication provide a panoramic view of outreach services in eight of the public library systems in New York State. The compilation also contains four papers on special topics. Articles included are: (1) "Not So Trivial: In Pursuit of Outreach Services" (Joan F.…

Project FREDD was initiated in 1974 as a cooperative effort by library and mental retardation agencies in the Waterbury, Connecticut area. The project utilized a bookmobile to route a special collection of books, media, and games to the mentally handicapped and information on mental retardation to their parents and teachers and to the community.…