Describes elements of the Planning for Library Services for People with Disabilities program in Massachusetts, which was developed to help libraries design programs and services to address the specific needs of a growing population of people with disabilities. Emphasizes using consumer input in plan designs. (Author/LRW)

Describes the current concept of information literacy as a survival skill and suggests that public libraries can play an important role in its spread if they develop some nontraditional practices and make alliances with other agencies. (EAM)

Provides an overview of issues relating to library services to linguistic, ethnic, and cultural minorities. Following a clarification of the terminology used, the process of immigration is addressed. The role of public libraries in this area and implications for professional associations are then discussed. Twenty-one references are listed. (MES)

Discussion of personalized information environments (PIEs) focuses on library personalized interfaces. Describes academic library PIEs and commercial sites, such as Amazon.com that use personalization; explores the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg's personalized interface; and discusses opportunities and challenges PIEs offer public…

Describes a books by mail program developed by the San Francisco (California) Public Library to extend free mail service to homebound patrons, including both older users and users with disabilities. Discusses previous library service; planning, including working with the Postal Service; and costs. (LRW)

Public libraries should be the place people go to seek community information, but inconsistent format and quality of delivery has created a void other providers of online information are filling. Examines online community information and discusses the results of an informal survey of 103 public libraries and their community information resources.…

Describes procedures used by the St. Paul Public Library (Minnesota) to gather input from patrons to use in developing a new strategic plan. The use of group interviews and a survey to identify which roles of the library were important to users and which services supported each role is explained. (two references) (LRW)

Traditional output measures for library services do not address the use of electronic resources and services, and national efforts to formulate such measures have failed. Describes the efforts of the Federal State Cooperative System for Public Library Data to identify output measures and the merits of various measures for local use of electronic…

Discusses library use instruction in public libraries. The need for instruction is examined, the commitment of public libraries to provide information rather than instruction is considered, academic library and public library users' attitudes are discussed, and a 105-item bibliography of descriptive literature on use instruction in public…

Describes a project in which the library needs of public housing residents were assigned a survey of residents, and in which the survey itself was carried out by residents. The methods used to train residents to conduct interviews are described, the survey results are presented, and the need for resident involvement is discussed. (11 references)…

Discussion of reference question negotiation by librarians focuses on a study at the Orem (Utah) Public Library that was conducted to determine how frequently the reference staff negotiated questions, how frequently negotiated questions received correct answers, and what verbal and nonverbal communication skills led to correct answers. (five…

Summarizes the highlights of a report on the results of a 1989 survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to obtain current information on the availability and usage of services for children in public libraries. The design of the questionnaire and unasked questions for future research are mentioned. (EAM)

Discussion of library users who seek information for others focuses on a study of public library adult reference desks that identifies the relationships between agents and imposers that motivate reference desk use and describes agent users in terms of their self-reported education levels and frequency of library and reference desk use. (Author/LRW)

Describes a project that modified the fill rate survey from "Output Measures for Public Libraries" to assess the library needs of middle school children. The resulting development of an up-to-date, graded nonfiction collection and its impact on library use by middle schoolers is discussed. The modified survey form is included. (five…

Reports results of a survey of Iowa City residents regarding their awareness of public library services. Data are presented on use of the library for factual information, statistical/numerical information, learning, and information not available at home; awareness of in-person and telephone library reference services; and knowledge about…