"is facebook down" trended on Google on October 4, 2021, when Facebook became temporarily globally unavailable. Web users proactively seek information when they encounter issues online. System status dashboards are one way libraries can leverage this behavior to share changes to resources or services and improve transparency, reference…

As part of a broader information literacy agenda, academic libraries are interested in advancing algorithmic literacy. Folk theories of algorithmic decision-making systems, such as recommender systems, can provide insights into designing and delivering enhanced algorithmic literacy initiatives. Users of the Spotify music recommendation systems…

This article discusses a project undertaken to assess the journals in a Big Deal package by applying a weighted value algorithm measuring quality, utility, and value of individual titles. Carried out by a national library consortium in Canada, the project confirmed the value of the Big Deal package while providing a quantitative approach for…

The Future Voices in Public Services column is a forum for students in graduate library and information science programs to discuss key issues they see in academic library public services, to envision what they feel librarians in public service have to offer to academia, to tell us of their visions for the profession, or to tell us of research…

The study's purpose was to investigate the views and opinions of librarians about the implementation of Web 2.0 technologies into library operations and services. The Delphi technique was chosen as the method of inquiry in this study, in which a group of panelists graded the desirability and probability of a list of statements. Thirty-nine…

Although information has become increasingly prevalent in young people's lives, minimal research has addressed children's attitudes to the word itself. This paper scrutinizes questionnaire-based data to explore how 45 eight- to ten-year-old Canadians understood the term. "Information" was often considered to be material that met a need,…

This article presents student perceptions about different types of web-based activities used to seek information for French language learning. Group interviews were conducted with 71 students in five Canadian universities to elicit data on their use of the Internet for information-seeking activities. These students use the Web for three main…

These Guidelines constitute the third edition of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) "Multicultural Communities: "Guidelines for Library Services." This revision follows the IFLA Section of Library Services to Multicultural Populations' "2006-2010 Strategic Plans": to review and revise the…

This article investigates the intersection between the in-school information literacy practices and out-of-school (i.e. home and community) information literacy practices of a third grade student and examines how this intersection may be contributing to his overall literacy learning. Data collected from field notes; observations of in-school and…

Identifies deficiencies in reference services offered by archives and examines factors preventing effective use of archival resources, including changing clientele, organization of collections based on the principle of provenance, and the uniqueness of archival collections. Suggestions for improving public service, including user studies and…

This paper discusses ensuring high quality research services that meet client needs, based on experiences at the Research and Information Services of the Ontario Legislative Library (Canada). The first section is an introduction that provides an overview of the Research and Information Services and summarizes factors related to quality control.…

Describes the French Language Information Network in Canada as an example of a national network and discusses the work of the International Federation of Library Associations in developing international networks. It is argued that, in order to design effective networks for developing countries, it is essential to first survey local needs. (seven…

Forty-five electronic pathfinders were selected from nine Canadian university libraries to assess their degree of conformity to suggested guidelines in existing literature about pathfinders. Analysis revealed the guidelines were not uniformly followed, leaving some pathfinders more complex and less useful than others. Specific guidelines must be…

This paper discusses building smart communities (i.e., communities that provide an advanced communication and information infrastructure and that enable residents and organizations to make good and independent use of these technologies) that benefit blind and visually impaired persons. The first section summarizes ways that the potential of smart…

A survey of 180 small businesses in the London, Ontario (Canada) area examined the role of the library in providing information. Found that small businesses mainly obtained information through informal sources: customers; suppliers; and friends, associates, and relatives. Concludes that public libraries should network and promote an image of the…