This fourth lesson in a continuing education course on legal issues affecting libraries and librarians discusses the library's rights and legal responsibilities in the areas of censorship and intellectual freedom, the Freedom of Information Act and patron privacy, problem patrons, and ethical considerations of library services. (14 references)…

Study of trends in financing public library buildings reviews data on federal, state, local, and private funding sources since the Carnegie era, and discusses statistics on expenditures by category, including construction, equipment, and site. Data are presented in 12 tables and graphs. (30 references) (MES)

Examination of the library of tomorrow speculates about the impact of changes in the functions of government, technology, demographics, lifestyle, and values on the role of the library. A facility for the contemporary public library is described that can both accommodate traditional services and respond to changes in the library's role. (17…

Describes a communications, materials booking, and interloan system in a Canadian public library system which allows equal participation of all sizes of libraries. The system has reduced the percentage of requests not found, improved turnaround time, is more cost effective, and has generated a higher respect for resource sharing. (EM)

This essay addresses the ambiguity and confusion arising out of two values that have been embodied in American public library ideology since at least the last quarter of the nineteenth century: concept of the public library as community institution; the public library's emphasis on service to the individual. (27 references) (EJS)

Examines arguments now being presented in support of public library networking and resource sharing and suggests ways to obtain harder evidence that might serve to legitimize these beliefs: estimate benefits, build in evaluation, support estimates of benefits, seek cheaper alternatives for accomplishing same goal, consider alternatives to…

Reports on efforts of three institutions in response to need for consumer health information: Health Education Center (promotes health in southwestern Pennsylvania), Tulsa City-County Library (Oklahoma), and Wellness Council of the Midlands (WELCOM) (promotes wellness at work site in Omaha, Nebraska, area). WELCOM's 62-item reference list is…

This examination of collection development and bibliographic control in the small public library (small staff and modest resources) is concerned with three categories of library materials that can be identified as serials: (1) magazines; (2) reference books; (3) books in series that can circulate separately. (10 references) (EJS)

Discussion of librarianship as practiced in rural areas of United States highlights advantages of rural environment which affect role of the library, i.e., interpersonal relationships, need for creative modes of information service, potential to provide insulation against personal anonymity, potential for impacting community, opportunity to…

Reports results of 1983 survey of 25 public libraries and 1981 survey of 11 public libraries, both of which focused on facets of online information services--user fees, databases, documentation, equipment, miscellaneous services, and subject areas searched. The 1983 questionnaire and seven sources are appended. (EJS)

Discussion of fee versus free question for public library services includes definitions of access to libraries and access to information; reasons for charging fees; library users (adults, students, children); effects of public lending right and distributed publishing on recreational reading; and who should pay for services. Five sources are given.…

Discusses the introduction of computers and appropriate software (computer-assisted instruction, computer games, open-ended programs) into the public library children's room. Computer literacy as a public library goal, specific objectives of a program at Oakville Public Library (Ontario), and library role in the information age are highlighted.…

Addresses extent to which public libraries have served needs of organized labor over past 50 years and examines factors that have influenced services offered and how libraries have responded. Role played by AFL-CIO/ALA Joint Committee on Library Service to Labor Groups and future direction of services are noted. (22 references) (EJS)

Describes historical background of "Register"--main entry microfiche catalog of New York Public Library master negatives of monographs--and bibliographic problems of compiling catalog whose entries have been prepared according to differing cataloging rules; methodology used to produce fiches; means by which "Register" can be…

In Ontario, a library network is emerging, made possible by a group of technically innovative specialists at the University of Toronto, and exploited by others in expectation of the common good of their patrons. (Author)