Discusses the role of rural public libraries in the information age. Characteristics of rural communities that library planners should consider are conservatism, the lack of professionally trained librarians, library trustee involvement, the need for marketing, and gender balance. Suggestions for recreating rural libraries and providing…

Presents 1992-93 data on the salaries of full-time public librarians in the state of Illinois with comparisons to salaries of librarians on a regional and national level. Highlights include type of position; gender; level of education; American Library Association accredited degrees; and size of population served by library. (Contains three…

Presents a step-by-step guide to creating a student-run puppet program in public libraries. Topics discussed include buying a stage; collecting puppets; recruiting and screening volunteers; selecting and adapting stories, including length, characters, and dialogue; the rehearsal process; and performance suggestions. (LRW)

Reports on a survey of international periodicals' cost history, country of origin information, and currency exchange rate to assist in identifying trends in the cost of periodicals and to project costs for the coming year. Tables present cost data by subject, continent/country or origin, and type of library. (SLW)

Discusses factors to consider when estimating the number of public access terminals (PACs) or workstations needed in public and academic libraries for online catalogs, including building size and layout, physical facilities, resources available through the system, peripheral equipment, graphical user interfaces, remote users, system capacity, and…

By reflecting the new global community in staffing, collections, programs, exhibits, and services, public libraries will be fulfilling their role in the acculturation and education of new citizens, as well as contributing to greater community understanding and a new world order. A sidebar lists seven steps for serving recent immigrants. (AEF)

Presents a 1992 study which discovered and investigated collection development bias in academic and public libraries in California. The investigation was carried out in five stages: (1) selected a controversial topic; (2) identified representative works; (3) ranked works by qualified judges; (4) measured holdings via library online computer…

Reviews 10 years of library and information developments in East, Central, and Southern Africa. Topics include school libraries; public libraries and rural information services; academic libraries; education and training; and professional library and information associations. (AEF)

A discussion of the "virtual library," use of a variety of cost-effective information technologies to provide high-quality library services to every sector of the community, considers implications for the nature and quality of public library services, especially those of branch libraries and libraries in rural areas. (MSE)

Discussion of research productivity related to library and information science educators' tenure and promotion. Focuses on studies that have investigated the criteria for evaluating professors' article publications in terms of journal prestige ratings supplied by academic deans and library directors, faculty specializing in school and public…

Reports results of a survey of vendors of large and microcomputer-based integrated library systems. Data presented on Canadian installations include total systems installed, comparisons with earlier years, market segments, and installations by type of library (excluding school). International sales and automation requirements for music are…

This study examined patron survey results and nonlibrary consumer activity in a small community to define convenient public library hours. No correlation between library and commercial enterprise activity was found, although some recommendations on library service were suggested by the data. The questionnaire is appended. (23 references) (MES)

Presents results of interviews with automation administrators of 39 public and academic libraries that recently migrated to new automated systems. Topics discussed include motivation for migration, planning for implementation, technical decisions and considerations, training, publicity, and relations with vendors. A list of participating libraries…

Describes a survey of public and academic libraries in Ohio that was conducted to examine the processes used to select and implement integrated library systems. Machine readable records are discussed, the computer environment in libraries is described, and satisfaction with the systems is examined. (eight references) (LRW)

A database for recordkeeping for a summer reading club was developed for a public library system using an IBM PC and Microsoft Works. Use of the database resulted in more efficient program management, giving librarians more time to spend with patrons and enabling timely awarding of incentives. (LAE)