An overview of the development of document supply relationships between libraries and publishers, based on the British Library's Document Supply Centre, reveals four areas leading to fee based (copyright) document delivery: libraries as markets for publishers; making users aware of what is published; making publications more accessible; and the…

Technological advancement has changed the way the role of archives, especially electronic records, is viewed by archivists. Based on experiences at the Center for Electronic Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, this article discusses finding aids and reference tools, reference services and electronic records in archives,…

Discusses the use of public libraries by homeschoolers and gives examples of ways to serve homeschoolers, including specialized tours and using homeschooled children as volunteers for library programs. Homeschooler-initiated outreach programs are described, and a list of resources including Web sites, books, and journal articles is provided. (LRW)

Discusses the amount of instruction that is part of reference service, based on experiences with the University of New Brunswick's LIVE (Library Information in a Virtual Environment) digital reference service. Concludes that digital reference instruction is not a substitute for more formal library instruction programs that include information…

Outlines the service rationale, software and technology considerations taken by the Pennsylvania State University library in planning towards online, real-time reference services and provides an overview of the planned pilot project. Discusses recent trends in academic electronic libraries, including providing value-added services to support…

Discussion of portal software and flat Web site design focuses on the University of California's Labor Research Portal. Topics include the need for reputable content; the library's goal to link digital resources with research, reference, and outreach; developing the library's role; partnerships; controlling intellectual capital; and the flat…

Discusses the need for libraries to market the value of their services. Highlights include customer satisfaction surveys; competition with other information providers; borrowing ideas from the private sector; focusing on marketing electronic resources; targeting younger users; the importance of personal service; and having a budget for…

Discusses values that are needed by academic libraries as they focus on learning rather than teaching in an increasingly digitized environment. Highlights include making connections to a wide range of information and ideas; and being conducive to offering easy access to library resources, including promoting library collections and services. (LRW)

Discusses how school libraries can provide valuable services to parents and develop meaningful partnerships with new computer technology. Suggests school librarians should analyze parental resources and needs and match them with the library's mission, as well as being sensitive to possible barriers to service. (Author/LRW)

The recent demand for more accountability from public libraries has made it essential that true cost-benefit analysis be applied to their operations. The authors developed a cost-benefit analysis methodology and applied it to five large public library systems. This article describes ongoing research to modify their methodologies to make them…

Five Grand Challenges are proposed for library research: (1) Library service: Could library services be made more meaningful? (2) Library theory: Who knew what when? (3) Library design: Have digital libraries been designed backwards? (4) Library values: How neutral can libraries be? (5) Library communities: How do communities differ? (AEF)

Discusses a user satisfaction survey distributed to patrons of the M.M. Bennett Library at St. Petersburg College (Florida). Reports that satisfaction with reference assistance has varied, although there has been an improvement in the rating of library instructions since this question was first posed in 1999. Suggests that paper surveys are easier…

Discusses school library media specialists and library programs and the need to promote them to make them more visible. Focuses on the need for advocacy and suggests steps to take, including collaboration with teachers, principals, and other media specialists; and includes resources for advocacy, starting with the AASL (American Association of…

Examines academic library service to labor groups, particularly in the area of Internet training. Results of an informal survey of 53 academic libraries in schools with labor study programs in the United States and Canada indicate that few provide direct services to labor unions, and provides an example of one that does at Cornell University.…

Describes the Teen Center at the Schaumburg Township District Library (Illinois) that was built with a sports theme. Highlights include the physical environment; the library collection, mainly recreational, that includes music CDs; the young adult population and community; hours of operation; staffing; youth participation and programs; and the…