Describes how the Robin Hood foundation has teamed with architects to ensure that New York City's 650 schools have comprehensive and modern libraries. Offers brief descriptions of the first six library designs resulting from this public-private partnership. (EV)

Describes the development of a manual participative game that was designed to demonstrate the functions of a database. Use of the game in a variety of academic contexts is discussed, including technical college students and degree students; and use of the data with software to create a database is described. (LRW)

Describes a new signature file method, called the multiorganizational scheme, for accessing information from large databases containing both formatted and free-text data. Implementation issues are discussed, and computational results based on a mathematical model are presented, as well as results using a library database. (43 references) (MES)

Examines the factors affecting the flow of information from international organizations to users in libraries. The types of materials generated are described, and the positive and negative factors affecting information flow in eight specific agencies are discussed. The issue of public access to international organization databases is also…

Discusses the need for cooperation between librarians and architects during the design of library facilities. The balance between the character of a building and its ability to adequately meet actual needs is discussed, and it is suggested that librarians should concern themselves with the smallest details of the design process. (CLB)

Reports the success rates of reference question answering as perceived by librarians and patrons in 36 public libraries. The discussion covers relationships between question answering success rates and factors such as time and effort spent on questions, reference resources and environment, communication difficulties, and type and source of…

Discussion of the future of libraries and librarians focuses on the effects of the information explosion and new technology. The topics considered include the information industry, electronic publishing, and the role of libraries. The importance of professional librarians in determining developments in library services is stressed. (eight…

Discusses methods and content of library instruction for CD-ROM searching in terms of the needs of end-users. Instructional methods explored include staff instruction, structured instruction, database documentation, tutorials and help screens, and floaters. Suggestions for effective instruction in transfer of skills, database content, database…

Provides background on the holdings, services, and layout of the mediatheque (multimedia library) at the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie (originally the Museum of Science, Technology, and Industry) in Paris. The library's online public access catalog and use of the catalog by children and the visually handicapped are described. (four…

Describes a prototype library expert system called BABEL which uses a new programing language, LOGIN, that combines the idea of attribute inheritance with logic programing. Use of hierarchical classification of library objects to build a knowledge base for a library information system is explained, and further research is suggested. (11…

Discusses the problems caused for both users and systems by queries containing negation, and presents an algorithm for transforming Boolean queries with negated terms into queries without negation using a hierarchical thesaurus. A set of user requests submitted to an academic library are also examined to determine the pattern and frequency of use…

Compares database characteristics, access, display, editing, new records, hard copy products, hardware, and price of CD-ROM catalog production products from seven vendors: Gaylord Information Systems; General Research Corporation; The Library Corporation; OCLC; Solinet; Utlas; and the Western Library Network. (MES)

Discusses the need for system upgrades of automated library systems in order to support ongoing software releases; obtain new functional modules; satisfy new library requirements; conform to new industry standards; and utilize new technology. Guidelines are presented for deciding when to upgrade and implement changes in these areas. (11…

Urges community college learning resources center (LRC) directors to piggyback on other institutional grants and capitalize on involvement in existing networks to obtain external funding. Lists federal and private sources of grants and offers examples of community colleges that obtained money from these sources to improve their LRC systems. (DMM)

Offers grantsmanship guidelines for learning resource centers (LRC's), focusing on locating funding and writing proposals. Describes grants obtained by Morton College's (Illinois) LRC from the college foundation, the state library, and the federal Department of Education. Lists resources useful in pursuing grants and identifying funding sources.…