Critiques the InfoTrac system and its use in academic libraries in terms of journals covered by the index; indexing accuracy; ease of use and need for instruction; and effects on the research skills of students relying on the system. (CLB)

Presents a methodology for describing, analyzing, and evaluating the public service functions of serial file systems, and describes a user study conducted in a university departmental library to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of its system in enabling students new to the library to locate known-items in the serials collection. (CDD)

This review of the overall findings of the "Educating the Online Catalog User" project at Northwestern University Library focuses on methods of data collection used in evaluating online catalog performance and user performance. The rationale and methodology of transaction log monitoring and new directions for technical development are…

Examines the commitment to bibliographic instruction in academic research libraries by comparing the existing instructional practices, clienteles, staff involvement, and support structure in those libraries having bibliographic instruction coordinators with those in which the instructional programs are still managed directly by reference…

Discusses several concerns about nature of online public access catalogs (OPAC) that have particular import to reference librarians: user passivity and loss of control growing out of "human-machine interface" and the larger social context; and the tendency of computerized bibliographic systems to obfuscate human origins of library…

Reviews findings of formal studies and experiential accounts of teaching online searching and, on basis of past research, recommends guidelines for school media specialists designing curriculum for instruction in online searching. Five types of online training are noted: vendor, database producer, course-based, self-instruction, locally designed…

Discusses professional parameters of librarianship that guided major revision of content and methods of bibliographic instruction program at Evergreen State College (Olympia, Washington). Highlights include rotation of librarians into full-time teaching, characteristics of team teaching, emphasis on investigating problem solving in the course, and…

Presents a critical overview of education librarianship and English-speaking nations throughout the world. Describes exemplary library service practices in two German teacher training institutions. Focuses on collection development, instruction in library use, and reference and information services. (JHZ)

A geography workbook developed to teach upper division college-level geography students and beginning graduate students how to use a college library is described. Research on the use of the workbook indicates that directed instruction is beneficial to student learning of library resources. (RM)

Describes and evaluates computer assisted instruction (CAI) remedial program used for credit course in bibliographic instruction, noting need, requirements, development, planning, and implementation. Statistics are presented to support principle that CAI can be valuable instructional methodology for bibliographic instruction programs. Test-retake…

Description of aggressive education program initiated at Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library highlights the library's environment; administrative configuration; staffing issues (recruitment, training); facilities, including 13 microcomputers and computer projects; materials production; program development; marketing;…

Provides rationale for integration of information skills into existing or cooperatively planned curriculum activities in such areas as science, social studies, language, and mathematics. The roles of principals, teachers, and teacher-librarians in integrated programs are outlined, and common approaches to teaching of skills are noted. Twenty…

Bibliographic instruction programs at the following colleges are described: Berea, Baruch, Earlham, Lake Forest, Ohio State, SUNY Brockport, Colorado, Toronto, Wisconsin, and Winthrop. Descriptions include program duration, administrative support, faculty support, integration into the campus curriculum, program goals and objectives,…

Describes a study of the effectiveness of microcomputer-based instruction compared with the lecture method and independent-reading approaches in delivering instruction on library information retrieval skills to eighth-grade students. Results indicate the microcomputer-based courseware and lecture method were identical in instructional…

This book discusses the theory and practice of information literacy instruction. Part I provides background, including the definition and history of information literacy instruction. Part II covers information literacy instruction building blocks, including: a brief introduction to learning theory; an overview of learning styles; library anxiety,…