Argues that in an age of information overload, the public library role is to promote books and reading and warns that public libraries that focus on technologies and information services will become cogs in the engine of material progress rather than fulfilling their role as sources of knowledge. (19 references) (EJS)

Description of the Westport (Connecticut) Public Library's experience with DIALOG as an effective ready reference tool highlights introduction of the search service, location of the terminal, the three most popular databases, a workshop to provide online training for the entire reference staff, and costs and free searches. (EJS)

Discussion of a statement of goals and objectives for reference department staff is based on an informal survey of reference managers in academic and public libraries and professional literature of planning. Strategies for developing statements (role of manager, arriving at goals, setting priorities, developing objectives) are described. Fifteen…

Describes a children's library outreach project employing neighborhood youth which is funded by grants from the Summer Canada Student Employment Program. Grant application procedures, budget preparation and justification, job performance expectations, finances, content of the "Read to Lead" program, and project evaluation are noted. (EJS)

This report analyzes data from an April 2002 survey of Colorado adult and young adult (high school age or older) public library patrons. Findings indicated that: technology in public libraries spans all demographics and fulfills a highly demanded patron need; technology have-nots are not limited to the poor or under-educated; and library patrons…

This data file contains data on state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for Fiscal Year 2003. The data were collected through the State Library Agencies Survey, a voluntary survey conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Data were collected on state library agency identification,…

The objectives of the Alabama Public Library Service are to: provide library services to the citizens directly or through local libraries; provide library services for those with special needs through the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; provide library services to employees of the State of Alabama to meet their…

This publication features work presented at the Second Annual Virtual Reference Desk Digital Reference Conference (October 6-17, 2000, Seattle, Washington). These proceedings include papers and presentations by conference presenters representing public, academic, and government libraries, as well as subject-specific AskA services, from the United…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) undertook a study of the use of technology and digitization activities in libraries and museums nationwide. This report first presents key cumulative findings of the survey that measured technology use and digitization activities by museums and libraries. It then presents a series of tables and…

This publication provides a comprehensive overview of work done across all parts of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Each issue contains short publications, summaries, and descriptions that cover all NCES publications, data products, and funding opportunities developed over a 3-month period. Each issue also contains a message…

Five files were generated from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 1993-94: (1) the Public Library Data File, including data for the universe of 8,921 public libraries identified by state library agencies; (2) the Public Library State Summary/State Characteristics File, including data aggregated at the state-level for the 50 states and the…

Controversy is the current state of opinion among librarians and others about the future of libraries. The proponents of the electronic library say that now that information is readily available from sources other than the library, the role of the library must be rethought. Some of the advocates of the electronic library see the elimination of the…

This Final Performance Report provides information and data to the U.S. Department of Education for the federally-funded Library Literacy Program. The report includes the following sections: general information; quantitative data; and narrative report. The Chester County Library (Chester, South Carolina) serves a community of 25,000-50,000 people.…

This document presents papers from a conference held in November 1995 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, convened by the Education Policy Unit (EPU) of the University of Natal as part of research concerning the provision of library-based resources for school learners. Following an introduction are two chapters: "Identifying the Inherited Problems in…

A key component of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the "E-rate," a program designed primarily to help fund telecommunication improvements at rural schools, libraries, and health care facilities. The program offers discounts that can be applied to telecommunication services, Internet access, and internal connections. An evaluation…