This paper describes the experimental implementation of BIROS (Bibliographical Information Retrieval Online Service) in the Lancashire Public Library. The project is designed to provide information on the potential use of an online service for the general public, with particular regard to professional and technical users; the implications for…

AskNow! online answers Australia-wide, the first nation-wide chat reference service, has been a successful exercise in collaboration and cooperation. This article examines some of the lessons learnt, the challenges of collaboration and possible future directions. AskNow!, an initiative of the Council of Australian State Libraries (CASL), commenced…

Discusses an in-service cross-training program designed for reference desk workers at the University of New Mexico Library. Describes the reference department and provides an overview of cross training. Highlights include training issues, a needs assessment questionnaire, program implementation, and evaluation. Four appendices provide sample…

Model for evaluation of library reference services examines four elements of reference process: librarians' performance on requests for factual information; knowledge of library policies, procedures, or services; provision of bibliographical instruction; and performance of interviewing techniques. Reference service questionnaire, criteria for…

This document reports the result of a study carried out to evaluate the installation and use of the UNESCO CD-ROM prototype. A questionnaire in English and French was sent to about 267 institutions around the world. Replies were received from 97 bodies, giving a response rate of about 36%. Almost all respondents were information professionals in…

The goal of Maine's Dissemination Capacity Building Project--the Information Exchange--is to build a comprehensive system for disseminating current information resources to Maine educators at every organizational level. This report begins with an abstract describing three major components of the information exchange: (1) a computerized information…

The goals of the Arkansas Capacity Building Dissemination Project (Project AID--Arkansas Information Dissemination) were to (1) increase the use of information for decision-making in Arkansas, (2) increase implementation of beneficial programs and practices in Arkansas schools, (3) develop a strong dissemination and communication staff at the…

This document comprises Vermont's final Five Year Management Report to the National Institute of Education on its Capacity Building Dissemination Project grant (1980-1985). The overall goals of the grant were (1) to develop a two-way communication network among the Vermont Department of Education, other public and private agencies, and Vermont…

The purpose of the Tennessee Dissemination Capacity Building Project was to build an information acquisition, retrieval, and referral system. This system, known as Project Support, provided information models in order to foster a capacity for a comprehensive State Department of Education dissemination system. The dissemination system provided…

Seven pilot New York State Education Information Centers (EICs) were established in 1980 to provide comprehensive information referral and advisory services to adults and out-of-school youth on education, job, and career-related topics. The EICs are located in Brooklyn, Harlem, Hempstead, White Plains, Plattsburgh, Syracuse, and Jamestown. Last…