Readers' contributions include ways to make inservice meetings interesting, a checklist for designing and evaluating learning centers, ways to help low ability readers use public libraries by taping materials, how to encourage college students to attend state council conferences, and comments on misleading findings from the Nelson-Denny Reading…

One person librarians or solo librarians are the information providers of the future. This article discusses the need for solo librarians to be concerned with power and influence; service to customers; and political awareness/shared vision/partnership with management. Sidebar contains the OPL (One-Person Library) Manifesto with fundamental…

When the Johnson County Library (Shawnee Mission, Kansas) went the extra mile to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an intensive program of building modification, new equipment acquisition, staff education, and community-awareness promotion was the result. A Disabilities Awareness Month was also launched. (AEF)

Profiles eight youth services librarians from public and school libraries, who participated in a recent American Library Association seminar. Describes reasons for career choice, learning experiences, salary, public image, duties performed and programs developed, highlights of the job, librarian teacher cooperation, technology, library education,…

Focuses on a Web-based version of a national survey for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) of public library involvement with the Internet. Describes the procedures used to develop the Web-based questionnaire, identifies issues concerning Web-based research, and presents recommendations for the future…

Describes how a library automation system administrator developed a computer support network for the Finger Lakes Library System's (New York) evening and weekend hours. Discusses support options and decision-making factors--hiring extra staff, utilizing vendors, pagers, cellular phones, or contracting for third-party support. After employing staff…

Presents results of the 45th annual "Library Journal" placement and salaries survey. Highlights include professional, temporary, and part-time job outlooks; library school stability; status of traditional jobs; placement trends, including minority placements; comparison of salaries; and a sidebar that profiles a librarian in her first professional…

Based on "Library Journal's" 1997 Public Library Budget Report, this article discusses the state of public libraries in terms of Internet-related costs, budgets, local, state and federal funding, and fundraising. Presents--in six tables segmented by population served--the financial situations of 84 randomly surveyed public libraries.…

Presents results of a study undertaken for the state library of Maryland to develop a process for the development of a Maryland Digital Public Library. Highlights include planning; management; implementation requirements; networked environments; technical infrastructure issues; collection development; standards; information content; information…

Presents a literature and Web survey of materials related to library user instruction and information literacy. Highlights include higher education; school libraries; public and special libraries; information skills training in the workplace; the global environment; conferences; examples of model programs; international programs for information…

Gopher and other early implementations of the virtual library are being superseded by the World Wide Web concept of "the global village library." Public libraries are implementing institutional Web pages, patron access to Internetwide e-mail, interagency programs, and Web training. Legislative issues and implications for the future are…

Three studies examined public library reference services use by patrons in Anglo, Hispanic, and Vietnamese communities in California. Interview questions concerned search topics, use of staff help, perceived usefulness of search result, successful search strategies, reasons for not seeking help, foreknowledge of sources, reasons for using the…

Describes three projects at Louisiana State University libraries designed to utilize document delivery and electronic access to expand collections, identify faculty journal needs, and share resources among academic, public, special, and school libraries. Network developments, grant support, and needs assessment surveys are also discussed.…

Considers the impact of services public libraries provide to union members, particularly access to computers, based on experiences with the SEIU (Service Employees International Union). Topics include training; resources for families; education; and Locals Online, a program that provides training and Web content to SEIU local unions. (LRW)

Summarizes research findings from seven dissertations that explore the benefits to students of school and public library cooperation. Highlights include characteristics of student use of public libraries versus their use of school libraries; student attitudes; socioeconomic differences in access to library services; and barriers to cooperation.…