Describes the cluster system of targeted marketing analysis, which uses geodemographic analysis to develop understanding of communities at the micro level. Characteristics of some types of neighborhoods found in the United States are described and the use of this approach by librarians conducting community analyses is discussed. (CLB)

Explains traditional notions of efficient behavior; applies them to libraries and information centers; discusses how we measure efficiency; describes data envelopment analysis, a mathematical model designed for use with nonprofit organizations to measure efficiency through a weighting scheme; and discusses its use in school media centers.…

Reviews graphic novels for young adults, including five titles from "The Adventures of Tintin," a French series that often uses ethnic and racial stereotypes which reflect the time in which they were published, and "Wolverine," a Marvel comic character adventure. (Contains six references.) (LRW)

Describes the experiences of the American Library Association in implementing an Internet gopher to make information more available to members. Topics discussed include an explanation of gopher software; organizational considerations, including organizational values; training to improve staff familiarity with the Internet; preparing documents for…

Discusses CD-ROM databases in college libraries and lists several ways to make local periodical holdings easily identifiable to users. Topics include standard inputting formats for library databases; updating databases; search strategies; and suggestions for teaching techniques to improve search effectiveness. (five references) (SLW)

In the 1970s, elders and volunteers of the San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians secured a grant to create a Luiseno Culture Bank of Luiseno artifacts and information gathered from museums, libraries, and private collections. Librarians from California State University, San Marcos, are now mounting the culture bank onto a HyperCard database. (KS)

Discusses two philosophical views of school library media specialists, one that emphasizes print materials and one that emphasizes technology. Topics include the deterioration of print collections, the increasing amount of information available, effects on students in technology-poor schools, the consulting role according to "Information…

A study used the 1993 Depository Libraries Shipping Lists for microfiche U.S. documents to determine the availability and timeliness of microfiche bibliographic records from OCLC. Results reveal that records were available for 44% of the sample (n=931) within 1 month of the shipping list date; after 1 year there was cataloging copy for 97% of the…

Describes the World Wide Web "work page" of the Saginaw Valley State University Library (Michigan). Discusses the work page's goals: provide reference librarians with quick Internet access, reflect particular Internet uses, and contain the most-often-used search tools and resources all on one screen. Examines advantages of the work…

Describes two electronic conferences (e-conferences) available on the Internet: e-mail-based discussion groups and Usenet news groups. Presents tips to help users of e-conferences increase the benefits of knowledge-sharing via these conferences. Sidebars present the largest library-related e-conferences, e-conferences gatewayed to Usenet, and an…

Describes five programs that have been significant to the evolution of biomedical communications in health sciences libraries over the last twenty years: the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM); Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS); National Research and Education Network (NREN); Unified Medical Language System…

Presents selection criteria for libraries choosing document delivery suppliers as an alternative to traditional interlibrary loan. Categories of commercial services are described, and selection criteria including ease of use, ordering options, charging and billing, copyright issues, enduser access, turnaround time, telecommunications options,…

Two teachers and seven media specialists from five school districts in Muskingum County (Ohio) had three weeks to write a proposal for a library automation grant. Before writing, they met to assess needs, determine how to find information on hardware and software, and establish long-term goals. As a result, they received the grant. (Author/AEF)

Describes a project at the University of Kent to build a thesaurus based on existing subject terms for a collection of cartoon drawings and then to convert the existing cataloging system to new thesaurus terms for an online catalog. A graphical thesaurus editor is described, and future work is discussed. (Author/LRW)

Librarians responsible for interviewing prospective employees need to be aware of guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which prohibit certain recruiting practices. This article gives examples of questions employers should and should not ask, reviews pre- and postemployee interview steps, and offers tips and background…