Information-literate students should understand the relationships between primary and secondary sources. This article presents a new model for integrating primary and secondary sources into general library instruction. The model is based on collaboration between a Special Collections librarian and an instruction librarian. It emphasizes the use of…

Stanley Milgram's 1967 "small world" social connectivity study is used to analyze information connectivity, or patron information-seeking behavior. The "small world" study, upon examination, offers a clear example of the failure of social connectivity. This failure is used to highlight the importance of the subjectivities of patron experience of…

It is easy for a library systems administrator to sometimes feel quite overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the job. Keeping a network running smoothly is a challenge in itself, but they must also be concerned with protecting the network from the many threats that exist. Constant vigilance is necessary to guard against electronic attacks…

This article discusses network security for libraries. It indicates that there were only six exploit (security exposure) problems, worldwide, reported to the CERT Coordination Center back in 1988. In that year, the CERT had just been established to provide a clearinghouse for exchanging information about network security problems. By 2003, the…

This article discusses the pros and cons of open source software, such as Linux. It asserts that despite the technical difficulties of installing and maintaining this type of software, ultimately it is helpful in terms of knowledge acquisition and as a beneficial investment librarians can make in themselves, their libraries, and their patrons.…

The author was talking with a friend not long ago about one of the hottest political topics in California these days--the high cost of the workers compensation system. "But libraries don't have to worry about that, do they?" asked her friend. "Aha!" I said. "Another stereotype! In fact, library work is very physical. And…

Over the last two decades, the topic of gender and computer gaming has generated much research interest. Researchers have examined a number of related issues, including the relative frequency with which girls and boys use computer games, the educational benefits of gaming and the types of educational games that appeal to girls. This article…

Genie Tyburski did not set out to be a law librarian. When asked at Drexel's library school what kind of librarian she wanted to be, she was surprised that "a good one" was not one of the options. But six weeks into the semester, she landed a part-time cataloging job at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia; six months later she was…

Jerome Myers originally dreamt he would be a cultural anthropologist, but instead he ended up negotiating contracts for major publishers. When his librarian sister suggested that academic librarianship might be more satisfying, he signed up for Brooklyn Public Library's (BPL) librarian trainee program and enrolled in the library and information…

This article is about Suzan Lee of UBS Securities LLC in New York, a person who is dedicated to connecting aspiring professionals to opportunities in the world of special libraries. In 1999, Lee realized that most library students had only one resource for internships--their library schools--and that these offerings focused largely on public and…

Purpose: The paper aims to provide advice, suggestions and encouragement for small budget-restricted libraries contemplating the need for web site redesign where an underlying goal for improving users' information literacy is a key factor. Design/methodology/approach: The initial planning is set within the context of a broader project examining…

Research library catalogs serve as authoritative sources of access. The increasing practice of including Web sites in the catalog, resources not under the library's control, raises new issues of the catalog's accuracy and reliability. An analysis of ARL libraries' catalogs examined the persistence of cataloged URLs. Error rates ranged from a low…

Current learning community initiatives in Bega Valley and Thuringowa illustrate trends that are likely to become more significant in communities across Australia. In both cases, local government councils have supported the projects with the council library taking a leading entrepreneurial role in the initiative. This role reflects the growing…

A survey was distributed to former academic librarians to determine why they left the field and which career they pursued afterward. Results suggest that former academic librarians are unhappy with administration, image, and salary. Time spent as librarians helped individuals in their new careers.

Exploring resources in order to determine their full potential in information-seeking is a necessary part of the ongoing education and training of information professionals. One should explore every resource available in order to make the best judgments when relevant queries are introduced. In this article, the author stresses that one key to…