Describes how the physical environment of the library at Saint Mary's University (Halifax) was developed into a more welcoming and inviting space. Highlights include the use of student marketing projects to examine perceptions of the library, including student surveys; raising its profile within the university community; and enhanced services.…

Examines the importance of understanding how and why academic libraries are changing, analyzes the limitations and difficulties of traditional library performance measures, and explores environmental factors that may help account for why library use is changing. Discusses how user behavior and preferences affect demand for and use of library…

Reports the results of a survey of reference librarians in public and academic libraries that investigated experiences with and attitudes toward the use of digital and networked technologies and resources in reference work. Highlights include a correlation between experiences and positive attitudes; characteristics of librarians; and current and…

Describes the development of a prototype Web-based database selection expert system at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that is based on reference librarians' database selection strategy which allows users to simultaneously search all available databases to identify those most relevant to their search using free-text keywords or…

Describes a study conducted at the University of Oklahoma that assessed information-seeking, evaluating, and usage abilities before, during and after an upper-level science course. Explains the bibliographic instruction offered during class, and proposes a model for incorporating information literacy into upper-level science courses and an…

Traces developments in China's academic libraries: managing human resources, restructuring library developments, revising and implementing new policies, evaluating services and operations, establishing library systems, building new structures, and exploring joint-use library models. Major focus was to improve services for library user. (Author/LRW)

Discusses implementation of the automated recording of reshelving statistics for print reference materials and the use of these statistics in reference-collection development and management, especially in making acquisitions and weeding decisions, based on experiences at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. (Author/LRW)

Reports on an evaluation of the Ariadne project which involved the production of a print and a Web magazine for subject librarians in academic libraries. It was developed to describe and evaluate sources and services available on the Internet for librarians and information professionals in the United Kingdom. (Author/LRW)

Discusses new services that academic librarians are offering to users involving digital data, such as geographic information systems laboratories and electronic text centers. Suggests that human factors, such as management, organizational climate among the staff, and the development of a user community will determine the success or failure of the…

A task force developed to examine solutions to declining student enrollments and student retention problems, recommended that the University of Oregon Library System develop library courses that address discipline-specific information needs in several library intensive courses, especially in journalism, management, psychology, and women's studies.…

Provides a brief historical background of electronic journals and delineates both positive and negative aspects of the technology for academic libraries. Topics include accessibility; subscription costs; multimedia capabilities; technological, sociocultural, and economic barriers; refereeing, or peer review; copyright and licensing; selection and…

Discusses self-instructional programs on library use in large academic libraries and recommends including opportunities for face-to-face interaction with subject specialist librarians. Topics include behavioral objectives; experiences at Brigham Young University; the use of Web sites; distance learning; electronic classrooms; and theories of…

Discusses changes in the academic library information environment and considers future possibilities. Highlights include making information useful, not just accessible; a brief history of reference service; technological advances; and the integration of user instruction and reference. (LRW)

Investigates the relationship between learning preferences and the following antecedents of library anxiety: (1) barriers with staff, (2) affective barriers, (3) comfort with the library, (4) knowledge of the library, and (5) mechanical barriers. Participants were graduate students (n=203) in a research methodology course. Analysis revealed that…

Focuses on electronic scholarly-journal publishing. Discusses characteristics of current academic electronic publishing; effects of the World Wide Web; user needs and positions of academic libraries; costs; and decisions of research librarians that drive the industry. (AEF)