When flood came to Cedar Rapids city, the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL), IA, lost 160,000 items including large parts of its adult and youth collections, magazines, newspapers, reference materials, CDs, and DVDs. Most of its public access computers were destroyed as was its computer lab and microfilm equipment. The automatic circulation and…

First offered to public libraries in 2004, downloadable audiobooks have grown by leaps and bounds. According to the Audio Publishers Association, their sales today account for 21% of the spoken-word audio market. It hasn't been easy, however. WMA. DRM. MP3. AAC. File extensions small on letters but very big on consequences for librarians,…

Offers collection development suggestions for public libraries interested in materials on AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Sources of AIDS information are discussed; censorship issues are addressed; formats are considered; and an annotated list of 38 relevant titles in a variety of formats is…

A workable system for collection development in this library is a weekly review of standard selection tools, catalogs, and publishers' notices by the book selection committee (library director and the department heads of adult, children's, bookmobile, and technical services). (JAB)

The public library must meet the needs of the community and the patrons it serves. One area of need is for genealogical materials to support the study of genealogy and family history. Because of the lack of information on the materials needed to make up a core collection of Ohio materials, a select group of 18 libraries and 15 genealogical…

Guidance for libraries in implementing the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is provided in question and answer format. Topics covered include library services and materials, employment issues, and parking requirements. (LAE)

A guide for providing library services to the elderly begins with a rationale and a statement from the Adult Services Division of the American Library Association regarding services to the elderly. Then planning considerations are described, such as library board and staff, surveying needs and programs, and special problems of the elderly.…

The readability level of material recommended for consumer health collections in public libraries is analyzed. All medical and lay items examined were found to exceed the standard reading skills of the general public. Discussion includes the relevance and appropriateness of sources, information needs and information-seeking behaviors, and a review…

In this article, the author relates her library experiences in high school. She considers those trips to the central library in downtown Buffalo as the hallmark of her eleventh-grade education. Now, she observes how the old way of doing research in the library was so different from what is practiced nowadays. Students nowadays who are considered…

Designed for use by public and school librarians as a starting point in developing educational programs, this annotated list of resources on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) includes pamphlets, films and video, fiction and non-fiction books, posters, organizations, and hotlines. The importance of AIDS education programs is emphasized.…

Describes the difference between literary communication ("belles-lettres") and information communication. Identifies 11 possible functions of or reasons for reading belles-lettres. Discusses the importance of literary communication to library users and the library's role in providing belles-lettres to the public. (AEF)

The "Mapping the Human Genome" project demonstrated that librarians can help whomever they serve in accessing information resources in the areas of biological and health information, whether it is the scientists who are developing the information or a member of the public who is using the information. Public libraries can guide library…

Describes a preliminary study that was conducted to examine the collection development practices, selection criteria, and sources used in acquiring Native American literature for children and adolescents in public libraries in Alaska and Oklahoma. Results of a literature survey are discussed, and further research is suggested. (Contains 36…

The 18th Allerton Park Institute (1972), sponsored by the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library Science and the Illinois Institute for Environmental Quality, was concerned with "Information Resources in the Environmental Sciences." Attention was directed toward the location, description and use of burgeoning resources in the broad…

Discusses how the resources of public libraries are now available to distant learners through telecommunication services. Highlights increases in library Web access, revitalizations of libraries, and increases in library use. Summaries key items in one university-public library cooperative agreement. (AEF)