Controversy is the current state of opinion among librarians and others about the future of libraries. The proponents of the electronic library say that now that information is readily available from sources other than the library, the role of the library must be rethought. Some of the advocates of the electronic library see the elimination of the…

This book on public library design and construction contains the following chapters: (1) "Beginning the Plan"; (2) "Data for Planning"; (3) "Location: Finding a Site"; (4) "Interior Design"; (5) "Furnishing and Equipping the Library and Its Environs"; (6) "Other Views," including "Using Small College Library Planning Techniques in Public Library…

Central Washington University (CWU) Library has set up an interactive web tutorial, named CWUILT (CWU Information Literacy Tutorial), to help students develop the skills needed to select and locate appropriate information for research projects. CWUILT contains three modules, with a quiz at the end of each module. It takes about 90 minutes to…

Over the past 10 years, many changes have affected the roles of librarians and other professionals in research libraries. The changes have been caused, in part, by technological advances, reorganizations, more focus on libraries as learning organizations, the use of teams and team-based approaches to tasks, and a recognition of diversity's…

This paper describes the development of the Penang Public Library (Malaysia) Children's Library. The first section discusses the role of the community. The second section provides background, including library objectives drawn from the key missions in the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto. The third section addresses creative strategies for…

This report presents data from 116 U.S. and Canadian research libraries that were members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) during the 1995-96 fiscal year. The 1995-96 Preservation Statistics questionnaire was designed to yield statistical information on the current level of preservation efforts in research libraries and on the key…

This paper addresses organization and management issues related to library material selection and acquisitions in the digital age, based on the author's experiences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill library. The first part of the paper focuses on selection. The following principles of selection are discussed: (1) developing a…

Outlines the functions of a Library Media Center and its introduction and benefit to young students. (RK)

Explores meaning of managerial accounting in libraries and discusses instructional program for students of library and information science based on experience in School of Library and Information Science at University of California, Los Angeles. Management decision making (budgeting, performance evaluation, overhead, resource allocation,…

Examines "A Planning Process for Public Libraries," published by the Public Library Association in 1980, discussing the mission of the public library, survey research and data collection, library goals and objectives, planning strategies, budgeting, the political environment, and output measures. Twenty-six references are cited. (EJS)

Describes the process followed in developing the materials selection policy used by the Leon County Public Library, so as to demonstrate how a policy responsive to adult interests evolved and continues to change as adult needs and interests change. Seven references are listed. (Author/LLS)

Describes the organization of a project to automate acquisitions activities at the National Library of Venezuela which was carried out at Northwestern University between 1976 and 1979, and which led to the automation of cataloging operations at the National Library. (Author/JL)

From an organizational approach to virtual or digital libraries (V/DL), this study places V/DL in the context of the academic library, focusing on relevant opinions of library heads. Findings suggest that the library heads typically understand V/DL as digital materials, are mainly supportive of V/DL understood in this way, and demonstrate the…

Discusses the state of community (primary) school libraries in Papua New Guinea. Highlights include teachers' delegated library duties, training in librarianship, lack of books, acquisition problems, facilities and types of storage, classification of the collection, and unattainable standards. (AEF)

Presents four challenges faced by libraries and proposes research designs to address each of them. The challenges involve: invisible infrastructure; content and collections; preservation and access; and institutional boundaries. Proposes a mixture of research methods that includes surveys, case studies, documentary analyses, and policy analyses.…