Examines activities of academic librarians and library educators regarding issues of affirmative action recruiting to increase diversity within the profession. Highlights include a description of multicultural organizations; the significance of leadership; efforts of the Association of Research Libraries; examples of diversity programs at academic…

Discussion of the profession of librarianship and its future focuses on the "Strategic Visions" program that identifies needed values and goals for the profession. Highlights include a new professional structure; improved library school accreditation processes; improvement of educational standards; certification of librarians; continuing…

Provides an overview of books and resources that can aid elementary school educators in classroom instruction for a diverse learning environment. Annotations describe 12 books and a 10-item series of guides on contemporary information resources and skills. (SLD)

Explores culture clashes experienced by school library media specialists that have influenced the development of the library profession. Highlights include educators and noneducators; different levels of education; varied access to information technology; male versus female; print versus electronic media; intergenerational relations; and present…

Discusses the trends in multiculturalism research, the importance of cultural diversity in the curriculum, and strategies for operationalizing a multicultural curriculum in library and information science education. Topics addressed include pedagogical methodology, leaning style, and course and program design. (97 references) (EA)

Explores the composition of the literature of international librarianship through a bibliometric analysis. Areas studied include what disciplines have contributed to international librarianship, how contributions of publications have fluctuated, what countries have contributed, and who the key authors are. Recommendations for further study are…

Provides an annotated bibliography of 42 books that rank as the library profession's most outstanding literature published between January 1997 and March 1998. The list is organized by the following categories: academic libraries; archives/preservation; cataloging/technical services; children's services; collection development; general library…

Discusses distance undergraduate education programs for paraprofessional librarians and suggests how to evaluate institutions: accreditation, academic program, communication, curriculum, and delivery methods. Highlights the AS degree in Library and Information Technology distance-education program offered by the University of Maine at Augusta.…

This article aims to suggest answers to two questions: What should be the primary purpose of information services in general and libraries in particular as we enter the new millennium? Assuming such a purpose, what array of services should the library be prepared to provide? These questions are approached mainly from the academic library…

Considers the beliefs, attitudes, and values of reference librarians. Highlights include the idea of personal assistance to someone who needs information; users' perceptions and use of information; librarianship as a profession; equitable access to information; users' information needs and goals; and nonverbal communication. (LRW)

Australian librarians have participated in and contributed to international librarianship for over 125 years. Individual and collective practice is well regarded internationally since it is in dialogue with international concerns, is based on shared values and reaches high standards. Many are willing contributors to international initiatives,…

Preferred characteristics in applicants for school library media specialist (SLMS) positions are studied in this article from three perspectives, that of the library school faculty, the library school student, and the school administrator. Surveys were sent to public high school administrators in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho;…

Literature on general education in higher education generally and in library and/or information science education and training specifically, is reviewed. Drawing from this review and from the findings of an empirical study conducted in South Africa, this article discusses curriculum development in LIS education and training in both the university…

This paper reports a study of the developing skills profile of information professionals, exploring the similarities and differences between library and information-based work in the light of the merger of the UK Library Association and the Institute of Information Scientists in April 2002. It examines areas of convergence such as the growing…

In a series of focus groups, past and present distance students of the Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, were interviewed to establish which factors they believed enabled them to persist with their program. Related issues, such as reasons for enrolling, expectations, and barriers to…