Summarizes results of a survey of 54 entry-level State University of New York librarians, including background data (position title, year of library degree), an analysis of 27 professional activities, and methods of preparation for job responsibilities--library school education, on-the-job training, self-instruction, continuing education (actual…

Describes study examining job advertisements for academic librarians published in three journals--"Library Journal,""ALA Bulletin/American Libraries," and "College and Research Libraries"--over a 20-year period. Announcements were analyzed in terms of requirements for education, experience, qualifications, and…

The population of state and federal prisons quadrupled between 1971 and 1991, increasing demand for library resources. Outlines the history of prison libraries (1700s-1990s); discusses prison libraries and librarians, law collections, reference services, literacy programs, and funding; and provides a bibliography of prison librarianship covering…

A study of 107 academic library position announcements (1990-94) for systems librarians analyzed position titles, responsibilities, degree requirements, required skills, reporting lines, and salaries. The study concluded that systems responsibilities change constantly, that interpersonal skills are essential, and that 38% of the examined position…

Analyzes 243 responses to a questionnaire sent to members of the American Theological Library Association to discern trends and patterns in theological librarianship: libraries represented; personal characteristics of respondents; employing library characteristics; academic status of librarians; salaries; degrees held by library staff; and…

Reports on the results of a survey of 87 library and information science journal editors that investigated manuscript review processes, acceptance rates, and availability of instructions to authors. Topics include the proliferation of journals; assessing the quality of journals; and implications for faculty promotion and tenure decisions. (LRW)

Identifies challenges facing graduate library education and recommends ways to keep library programs from closing, including better defining the profession of librarianship and avoiding isolation by engaging in high-profile, universitywide relationships with other academic departments. Unique characteristics of librarians and librarianship are…

The lead article in this section argues that the profession's current focus on technology has compromised academic librarianship's scholarly values, eroded the quality of rhetoric between librarians and patrons, and contributed to the ascendancy of information over knowledge. Renewal of the teaching function and reaffirmation of traditional values…

Argues that, with the trend toward viewing reference librarians as information brokers and the reification and privatization of information, the traditional goals of libraries and librarianship are being lost, i.e., providing free and open access to books and information to promote informed democracy and the public good. (63 references) (EAM)

States that schools of library and information science should reaffirm their commitment to increasing minority access to the profession by adopting a comprehensive program for the recruitment of minorities. Strategies for developing an effective recruitment plan are outlined, and the benefits and goals of mentoring are discussed. (seven…

A "public" member of the American Library Association's Committee on Accreditation examines trends in library education across the country, and what this means for library and information science in the future. Discusses observations and issues in terms of mission, goals, and objectives; curriculum; faculty; students; administration and financial…

Discusses the convergence of educational programs for the information profession as information professionals handle more varied job responsibilities, including archival work, librarianship, and records management. Highlights include historical developments, partnerships, resource sharing, curriculum design, continuing education, research agendas,…

Reports on a study to construct a baseline of scholarly use of Internet-based electronic resources (e-sources) by surveying library and information science (LIS) scholars. Results reported include researchers' demographic information, frequency of use of various applications, strategies of locating e-sources for research, opinions on citing…

Highlights some professional associations' statements regarding education and the place of technology in educational programs. Examines the content of core curricula of a set of library and information science programs. Suggests content elements of an ideal core, designed to meet the intellectual and practical needs of information professionals of…

These articles address the core values of librarianship, focusing on democracy and public libraries; equity of access to information, including building collections, circulation policies, interlibrary loan, and intellectual property and licensing; intellectual freedom, including rating systems for various media; and library service in the light of…