A project established a Technology Assisted Learning Center (TALC) at the New Britain (Connecticut) Public Library. Software for computer-assisted instruction was purchased in the following areas: drill and practice, educational games, simulation, demonstration, tutorial, and problem solving. Problems were encountered with regard to interactive…

Describes the effects of economic factors on information services in Mexico. Topics discussed include librarians' salaries; inadequate library budgets; acquisitions in academic libraries; the development of public libraries; library networks; national databases; microcomputers and library automation; library research; effects of devaluation; and…

This examination of collection development and bibliographic control in the small public library (small staff and modest resources) is concerned with three categories of library materials that can be identified as serials: (1) magazines; (2) reference books; (3) books in series that can circulate separately. (10 references) (EJS)

Provides an approach to dealing with donations and special collections for public libraries serving all sizes of communities with varying levels of funding. Highlights include guidelines for when to accept special collections, how to identify areas of need in the library's collection, and a special collection proposal form. (EM)

Discusses the Hawaii State Public Library system decision to outsource library book selection to a vendor. Highlights include problems with the current contract, including lack of input from local librarians; and possible benefits of outsourcing, including the chance of having an outsourced baseline collection with discretionary funds for local…

Facing a major budget crunch, the Hawaii State Public Library System awarded a five and one half-year, $11.2 million contract to a vendor (Baker & Taylor) for collection development. Hawaii librarians argue that outsourcing sacrifices local expertise and a central part of their professional identity. Discusses the controversy from opposing…

This bibliography presents sources which trace the development of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' (IFLA) policy for the support of librarianship in Third World countries, the development of awareness and sensitivity to its issues within the library and information world, and the way in which professionals in…

The process of establishing the vertical file for a new branch library is traced; suggestions for making the vertical file a better resource are offered; and guidelines covering the general objective, responsibility for selection and maintenance, principles of selection, and scope of the collection for vertical files are presented. A four-item…

This guide to adult reference works and services for the small or medium-sized public library is divided into two sections. Section One lists 559 numbered items arranged in 22 subsections, and 222 additional items in notes following entries or at the end of the relevant subsection. Subject areas are as follows: guides and bibliographies; general…

Describes the Booktech 2000 project that was developed at the Denver Public Library as a new work concept to improve acquisitions procedures and customer service. The short-term goal of expanding collections for new branch libraries is discussed, and new relationships with vendors are explained. (LRW)

Discussion of the acquisition and dissemination of revisionist history materials by public libraries focuses on revisionism related to the Jewish Holocaust. Intellectual freedom is addressed, the role of the public library is considered, handling holocaust-denial literature is described, and an example from the Edmonton Public Library is…

In 1995, a questionnaire was sent to Tennessee public and academic libraries with book collections of more than 5,000 volumes. The response rate was 48% and the sample included 44 public, 23 four-year academic and 7 community college libraries. Forty-three (56%) of these libraries collect local government publications. While, the earliest…

Describes the collection development plan implemented by the Tulsa City-County Library system to support their perception of the role of the library as providing more than recreational reading. Topics discussed include raising staff consciousness, rejecting demand buying, evaluating the collection, streamlining acquisitions, and procedures for…

The purpose of this project was to determine if publishers, by numbering a monographic series, facilitate the acquisition or retrieval of individual monographs. Treatment of monographic series has been erratic for several reasons: (1) changing cataloging codes; (2) inconsistency by the library of Congress in regard to series added entries and…

Describes programs developed at Houston Public Library to meet information needs of the immigrant population. Highlights include serving students, children's and young adult collections of foreign language materials, folklore and cultural materials, developing staff expertise, English-language materials, audiovisual support materials, and foreign…