A roundup of events and trends in the library world which have made news in the past twelve months. (Author)

The development of instructional materials to be used in independent study courses that are offered off-campus for full academic credit. (Author/RM)

Reviews the concept of thematic analysis, discusses its strengths and limitations, and explores the applicability of the concept to the literature of information science through an examination of articles from volumes 16-27 of the Journal of the American Society for Information Science. A 16-item reference list is attached. (JL)

Defines the term media librarian as a person who is educated and knowledgeable and can work with all formats of information transfer in the context of a library. Three major concerns regarding the preparation of media librarians are also discussed. (LLS)

Considers the question of compulsory certification for librarians and describes a California proposal which would require certification for librarians desiring positions in state-funded libraries. (FM)

Librarianship and science are antithetical as knowledge systems because the substance of the former is instrumental to the latter, and vice versa. This is revealed by the diametric oppositions of their objects and methods of study, and their objects and means of mastery. (Author)

An historical survey of statistical data collection for librarianship and education in the United States. (LS)

Discusses the concept of information literacy and its target audience of library users. Topics discussed include the relationship of information literacy to bibliographic instruction (BI) and other library instruction; the role of librarians; terminology problems in librarianship; and the effects of information literacy on the value of information…

Presents two personal views of mentors in the field of librarianship who reflect enduring professional values. Errett McDiarmid, former ALA (American Library Association) president, and Russ Emele, former director of libraries at East Stroudsburg State College (Pennsylvania) are remembered for their contributions to the profession. (LRW)

New library media specialists (LMS) are special people, who are eager for the world of library science. Stepping into a job of LMS requires courage and tenacity, and most of the librarians state that the most difficult in the first year are time and relationship.

She is still in the wings, but once Sharon (Sherri) McQueen arrives on the stage of library education, innovation will surely follow. McQueen comes across like a fast-forward version of Katharine Hepburn's Bunny Watson without the fear of technology. Funny and clever, she seamlessly trades her comedy mask for tragedy when she turns to the future…

Considers the historic and contemporary import of Pierce Butler's "An Introduction to Library Science". Characterizes the content of each chapter and critically analyses the central theses. Relates Butler's positivistic premises, assumptions and conclusions to the congeries of competing epistemological and ideological standpoints that defines…

Some may think being a school librarian requires the same talents and skills at all grade levels. The author, having a masters in library science, thought she could handle any library-related issue no matter what the patron age. In this article, she describes three distinct moments from her first day as an elementary librarian which made her…

Postmodernism is still the subject of vigorous ongoing debate in a variety of fields like education and anthropology and has now arrived in the literature of librarianship. Prior conflicts generated over postmodernism remain--including academic areas where it has been declared passe. This paper summarizes postmodernism and its intellectual…

Librarianship and library and information science (LIS) have long struggled with an ongoing lack of a theoretical and epistemological basis. There have been renewed efforts to explore various theoretical and philosophical positions and their meaning for librarianship and LIS research. This article explores the framework that Jurgen Habermas offers…