Views librarians as having dual roles as censor and defender against censorship in making decisions on acquisition and access to minors. The Library Bill of Rights is criticized for its ambiguity and idealistic purity. (SW)

The direction and development of public library services to children are of vital concern; but socioeconomic "status insecurity" on the part of chilren's librarians may confound their ability and willingness to fulfill both personal and professional commitments to librarianship and to children. (Author/CMV)

Challenges current information literacy practice in higher education. Discusses the shift in focus from teaching to learning and from bibliographic instruction to information literacy; changing role of academic librarians; the role of school teacher-librarians versus academic teaching librarians; student learning; training and teaching paradigms;…

This interview with John Perry Barlow (Grated Dead lyricist / technology expert) addresses issues concerning cyberspace, technology, and culture. Topics include the idea of community; the Internet; the Electronic Frontier Foundation; the role of libraries; print materials; concepts of information; peer-to-peer technology; file sharing; and…

Revisions to Internet standards, the Next Generation Internet Protocol (IPng), will be tested with initiatives such as Internet II, a high-speed Internet being developed by a consortium of universities, and the vBNS, a National Science Foundation and MCI project. Argues that librarians should be aware of these changes if they want to participate…

Discussion of outsourcing information services in corporate libraries and the need to identify library services that are not outsourceable. Focuses on client/service provider interactions and a framework for an expanded model of the information counselor role that integrates information diagnostic and repackaging services. (Author/LRW)

Discusses how libraries have the potential to support and motivate adults wanting to improve their literacy skills. Reports on a British initiative to bring together libraries and basic skills providers. (Author/JOW)

Highlights the role that instruction librarians need to play in assessing and creating usable Web sites, based on experiences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Discusses the importance of needs assessment to determine instructional issues and outlines the Web site redesign process currently underway at UNC, including…

Discusses the professional liability of medical librarians and their employers in the delivery of information to physicians. Steps for librarians to take to protect themselves from professional liability and to insulate physicians and institutions from vicarious liability are suggested. (12 references) (MES)

Presents arguments in support of public library acquisition of videos. Some potential benefits for children and adults of watching videos are cited, e.g., learning about good acting, screenwriting, cinematography, directing, music, and good literature. (MES)

Looks at the history of library services for children and the establishment of libraries in schools. Discusses the future of collaboration between teachers and librarians. (MG)

Seven articles address topics related to leadership and library administration: (1) the nature of leadership; (2) the role of mentorship in developing library leaders; (3) the relationship between leadership and personnel development; (4) leadership roles for librarians; (5) library directors as middle managers; (6) raising librarians' salaries;…

Traces the development of reference service in American libraries during the second half of the nineteenth century and examines the evolution of reference service in the Providence Public Library. The article focuses on how the distinctive features of reference service were conceived and merged into the current concept of reference service. (43…

Looks at current scenarios in the book worlds of the United States and the United Kingdom, including taxes on books, net book pricing, and public lending rights; traces their historical background; and shows differences in attitudes and priorities in these leading publishing countries. (34 references) (MES)

Examines the issue of evaluation of information by librarians in reference services, comparing this aspect of reference with the evaluative decisions made in the selection process. It is argued that libraries should assume an evaluative role in order to help users sort through information and make wise decisions about what they need. (two…