The origins of public support for libraries in Massachusetts during the early to mid 1800's is discussed. Records indicate that the origins of the public library movement stem from a public feeling of need rather than elitism, philanthropy, or preservation of the status quo. (JPF)

A county library's support to the local judicial system, by making video equipment and staff available for the recording of depositions has resulted in an increase in good will toward the library in the business community. Cost recovery fees are charged. (JPF)

Description of Kansas City Public Library continuing education program. (KP)

Questions the impact of the new copyright law and warns librarians against expecting too much from resource sharing. (Author)

The Committee on Fines and Penalties reports plans and activities in studying fines, penalties, and punitive activities in libraries. Findings are reported for public, academic, and school libraries, and recommendations made. (KP)

Reports results of a biennial survey of public libraries serving populations of 100,000 or more, including data on per capita expenditures, directors' salaries, and beginning professional salaries. Sixteen tables break down data by region, size of population, and sex of director. Three references are listed. (MES)

Describes the Tacoma Public Library's experience with "BIP Plus," the CD-ROM version of Books in Print. Memory requirements, search capabilities, automatic ordering, and the library staff's response are discussed. Keyword searching is explained as the system's most used feature, and price the area of most serious concern. (EM)

Notes that draft proposal for voluntary public library accreditation prepared by ad hoc committee is now ready for consideration by professional community. This article defines accreditation and proposes possible goals to provide a framework for discussing the pros and cons of establishing a Commission for the Accreditation of Public Libraries.…

This annotated bibliography of literature on public access to legal information is categorized into three sections: public access to legal information and materials in law libraries, access in non-law libraries, and non-prison libraries' responsibility to provide legal information to prisoners. (CLB)

A library director describes her experience of safeguarding the confidentiality of the circulation records of a woman who went on a shooting rampage at a shopping mall. The lawyer who represented the library discusses the legal responsibility of public and school libraries concerning confidentiality. (CLB)

Describes public library policies and restrictions on children's library usage, which may include requirements such as name-writing performance tests or enrollment in first grade to qualify for a library card. Such policies are criticized as discriminatory. (MES)

Describes a cooperative program between the Deerfield (Illinois) Public Library and local junior high school designed to teach reference skills. Ideas for topics and methods of presentation to introduce students to reference sources in the public library are suggested. (7 references) (MES)

Discusses sources of available data on reference questions asked and answered in public libraries, and analyzes data collected between 1970 and 1985 in nine states. National data from libraries in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain are also presented. (Author/MES)

Based on a doctoral dissertation, this paper describes a study of why displays of books increase use. Two hypotheses were tested using standard pretest-posttest experimental designs at two small Illinois public libraries. Increased accessibility and visibility were found to be causes, while narrowing the browser's choice was not. (Author/EM)