This article presents the results of a study into the provision of Internet training for adult public library clients. The study, which was completed in 2008, forms part of a larger investigation into the characteristics, preferences and needs of adult public library clients in New South Wales. The aim of this section of the investigation is to…

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…

Master's students in library science and students in a library technician program were asked to read scripts of reference interviews in which the amount of bibliographic instruction and the "maleness" or "femaleness" of questions were varied. They were then asked to make a judgment about the competence of the reference…

The six papers in this collection were presented at three sections of the Division of Regional Activities: (1) "A la recherche d'Approches adaptees aux Besoins en Documentation des Africains (In Search of an Approach Adapted to the Information Needs of Africans)" (Touria Temsamani Haji, Morocco); (2) "People's Libraries: An African…

Describes a survey of public librarians that examined their understanding and use of bibliographic instruction and their beliefs about the role of instruction in reference services. No consensus was found, but respondents' views seemed to be mediated by training in bibliographic instruction, library size, and the library's policy on user…

Discusses the public for bibliographic instruction in libraries, what they are learning, who is not being served, and what the implications of that failure are. It is suggested that bibliographic instruction should create a public knowledgeable about the information environment, including its principles, structure, systems, and libraries as…

Discussion of ways libraries deal with patrons with various disabilities focuses on a project that investigated the effects of bibliographic instruction on mentally retarded adults using public libraries. Evaluation of the instruction by examining patrons' use of their library cards is described, and results of pretests and posttests are…

This annotated list of materials dealing with information literacy includes publications on user instruction in academic libraries (140 titles), public libraries (4 titles), school libraries (56 titles), and special libraries (11 titles) and for all levels of users (6 titles). Statistics regarding the numbers of publications are discussed. (LRW)

Examines the pros and cons of providing access to the World Wide Web for library patrons as well as suggesting solutions to problems. Discusses the establishment of a library policy governing the use of the Web, as well as the importance of workshops and instructional materials on Web use in libraries. (Author/AEF)

Presents the results of the Seattle Public Library's survey on its Internet service. Seventy-one percent of users were satisfied with the service, but expressed a need for more staff assistance and instruction. Users also valued using the Internet for educational assistance. A sidebar by Jacobson highlights students' expectations for Internet…

The seven papers in this collection continue the presentations from the Division of Libraries Serving the General Public: (1) "Multicultural Activities for Children and Young People at the Munich International Youth Library" (German and English versions; Lioba Betten); (2) "Multicultural Literature and Library Services for Children:…

This paper seeks to dispel misconceptions about home-schooled children--that they are brainwashed, poorly socialized, or receive poor education. Public libraries can serve the needs of this user group by increasing staff awareness of both the Christian and the "unschooling" philosophical camps, keeping communication lines open about…

This study suggests that it is important to study library users' reaction to and satisfaction with the instruction given to them for use of the online public access catalog (OPAC). The objective of this study was to discover the types of instruction that users at the Beavercreek Community Library (Ohio) feel are most useful in learning the OPAC.…

In 1988 a research team at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) completed a study entitled "Developing Partnerships" that documented and analyzed library-based information services for distance education students in Northern Ontario. (The project was funded as part of the Province of Ontario initiative called Contact…

The Developing Partnerships project is a 5-year program intended to develop distance education programs in institutions of higher education in Northern Ontario, to establish an extensive information network called Contact North/Contact Nord, and to conduct research into areas considered appropriate for quality distance education delivery. The…