Reviews public library services in the People's Republic of China since 1949. Describes the Shanghai Library, the second largest library in China; the Shanghai system's three level network (municipal, district or county, and street or town) of public libraries which provides for resource sharing, librarian training, professional activities, and…

Presents two speeches from a library service preconference program. An author discusses her historical fiction for young adults and a Public Service Coordinator at Pekin (Illinois) Public Library focuses on interagency cooperation and her library's first intergenerational program. (AEF)

Presents three papers addressing the topic of using youth volunteers in public libraries: "Teen Corps Reaches Out with Pride" (Yvonne K. Coleman); "Whose Teen Advisory Board is this, Anyway?" (Leila J. Sprince); and "It All Started in the Summer..." (Liz Baldwin). (AEF)

Insights from focus groups from nine rural and urban areas served by the Mid-Hudson Library System (New York State) show that nobody dislikes libraries, but many people have almost forgotten that they exist. By drawing on perspectives of different social groups, libraries can develop new approaches to building their audiences. (SLD)

Describes the Tall Tree Initiative for Library Services, sponsored by the Reader's Digest Foundation and administered by the public and school library systems of Westchester County, New York. The initiative focuses on improving services offered children in the 21st century, and demands a new level of school-public library cooperation. (AEF)

Investigates a national sample of 10 states and a case study of one state (Indiana) using the technique of internal control, both to understand how public library embezzlements occurred and to suggest areas of improvement in library financial management. Findings indicate embezzlement is a continuing problem; and better training in financial…

Summarizes national survey findings of email reference services in academic and public libraries; describes types of email reference services for selected Colorado libraries; and focuses on a detailed overview and analysis of two years of Colorado State University's email reference experiences. (Author/LRW)

Discusses meeting the needs of learners in United Kingdom libraries. Topics include the role of the public library; barriers to learning; implications for libraries; motivation to learn; motivating learners in libraries; meeting users' learning needs; and training for librarians. (LRW)

Defines cyber-fundraising and discusses reasons for using online fundraising in North Carolina public libraries. Discusses survey results on how North Carolina public libraries are using the Internet for fundraising; four steps for incorporating the Internet into a development program; measuring success; and using a "pull" strategy for…

Discusses ways that librarians can help the 15% of all children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability (LD). Highlights include the use of books on tape, watching for signs of possible disabilities in preschool programs, and a family program that is a partnership between public and school libraries. (LRW)

Considers issues relating to children's access to information on the Internet in public libraries. Topics include censorship versus selection; First Amendment rights; the American Library Association's challenge to the Communications Decency Act; filtering software; and the role of the public library. (LRW)

To compile a list of recommended electronic databases for rural libraries, public library patron questions received by the Arizona State Reference Center were searched on ten databases. The results indicated Books in Print, Magazine Database, ABI/INFORM, Public Affairs Information System (PAIS), and Government Printing Office (GPO) Publications…

"Born to Read," has attempted to build a partnership between public librarians and health care providers to help new and expectant at-risk parents. Describes the experiences of projects in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Provo (Utah), and Houston (Texas). Discusses literacy and learning theory, ethnic needs, and resources for infant/toddler…

Discusses the growing number of teenagers and its impact on school and public library services. Topics include focusing on youth developmental needs; the effects of library services on teenagers; planning services with teens, rather that for them; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Discusses public libraries' imperatives for training older adults in computer use and surveys current literature on older adult learning. Concludes that older adults do learn differently from younger adults; explores how learning differences are relevant to computer learning; and suggests implications for trainers of older adults. (Author/LRW)