Examines the extent of change over a one-year period in the adult fiction titles most widely held by over 4000 OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. member public libraries. Findings indicate the most widely held titles are popular works that form a stable core from one year to the next. (Author/AEF)

Includes six articles focusing on the purpose of digital public libraries; encoding electronic documents through compression techniques; a distributed finding aid server; digital archiving practices in the framework of information life cycle management; converting metadata into MARC format and Dublin Core formats; and evaluating Web sites through…

The previous head of the Central Library of Riverside City and County Public Library (RCCPL) (California) examines the economic failure of the system and the effects of the move to total outsourcing to a private commercial firm, Library Systems & Services (LSSI). Concludes that RCCPL had problems long before it was outsourced to LSSI. (AEF)

Describes how the Seattle (Washington) Public Library celebrated National Poetry Month in 1997 with readings, workshops, lectures, and poem-a-day display boards in libraries and community centers. Suggests ways libraries can organize programs, activities, exhibits, and displays for National Poetry Month (April) at minimal cost and staff effort.…

Observes and interviews three families in a public library over an 18-month period. Notes that the traditional link of parents reading to children was not present, yet other caring, personal, and powerful links to literacy were. Argues that awareness of diverse family experiences linking love to literacy provides platforms upon which educators can…

Describes facilities, collections, and services of the Greater Cairo Library, Mubarak Public Library, Heliopolis Public Library, and El Mustaqbal Library and Egyptian efforts to promote literacy and reading. (PEN)

Discusses Internet access in public libraries, filters, censorship issues, First Amendment rights, and intellectual freedom. Suggests that the Internet is a resource, and that the level of library service is dependent on what it can afford to provide, consistent with its mandate to serve the community's information needs. (Author/LRW)

Discusses statistical analyses of the effect of reduction in opening hours on book issues, or borrowing, of public library authorities (PLAs) in the United Kingdom. Demonstrates the difficulties involved in using statistical data to make accurate predictions of the impact of opening hour reductions on borrowing. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the role of the public library trustees and considers characteristics that are important for successful library boards, including diversity, active participation, knowledge of laws that authorize creation of public libraries and describe the terms and duties of board members, selection and support of a good library director, and…

Reviews the efforts of Michigan public libraries to create local and statewide electronic information services. Highlights include Internet access; libraries' roles in the community; networking climate; three local and regional projects; and statewide initiatives, including those of the state library. (LRW)

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) in public libraries can contribute to lifelong learning and social inclusion. Its use in libraries is hindered by concerns about privacy, limited resources, and beliefs that free Internet access is justifiable only for information, not communication. CMC in fiction/reader services, family history, community…

These two articles discuss the need to promote librarianship as a profession to young people. Discusses the American Library Association's effort to recruit younger as well as ethnically diverse audiences; suggestions for local activities; and a mentoring program in New York City for public library youth employees. (LRW)

Examines public library budgets by the population size served. Discusses total budgets, salary budgets, and materials budgets; funding and technology, including e-rate for Internet access and Internet filtering; and fundraising. (LRW)

Presents an overview of the Prime Time Family Reading Time program, a family literacy program that is based in public libraries and incorporates the presentation of children's literature with the discussion of humanities-based questions for low literacy, at-risk parents and their children aged six and older. (Author/LRW)

This study examined the effects of students access to print through public library card ownership and class trips to the community library. Reading performance, attitudes toward reading, time spent reading at home, number of books at home, and family visits to the public library after school were compared between students who had library cards,…