The Editor of "ALJ" has invited me to comment on my 2001 article "Losing the quality battle in Australian education for librarianship" (Harvey 2001). The article was prompted by a period I spent as a visiting professor in the Department of Information Studies at UCLA (the University of California Los Angeles) and was written while I was there.…

At the time of writing the original paper my viewpoint was a personal one, one that focussed on the status within the profession of equally qualified librarians based purely on the perceived status conferred by the type of libraries in which they worked. However, it must now be observed that the world in which public librarians operated then was…

Field experiences function as a link between LIS theory and practice. Students should be provided with an experience that is a true reflection of the professional environment. The increasing focus on research by academic librarians provides an opportunity and responsibility to integrate research into the field experiences of LIS students.…

The current rate of change suggests scholarly communications issues such as new publication models and technology to connect library and research tools is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. As models evolve, standards develop, and scientists evolve in their communication patterns, librarians will need to embrace transitional…

Six articles address: (1) the impact of science on the physical examination and treatment of books; (2) equipment for physical examination of books; (3) research using the cyclotron for historical analysis; (4) scientific analysis of paper and ink in early maps; (5) recent advances in automation; and (6) cataloging standards. (MES)

Offers advice to librarians considering doctoral study in library and information science. Highlights include the difference between academic and professional degrees and how to select a school, choose a specialty, and evaluate the quality of a program. (EM)

A past president of the American Society for Information Science discusses the past and present status of the organization and the field of information science and the advantages and problems resulting from the interdisciplinary composition of the field. (CLB)

Reviews some of the many career opportunities outside the traditional library for library and information studies school graduates as identified by recent surveys. The adequacy of school curriculums in preparing students for these roles is evaluated, useful courses are identified, and current trends in information science education are identified.…

Explores and critiques an information paradigm that is currently being proposed in the library literature, and looks at its potential impact on research and policy issues of major concern to librarians and library educators. (CLB)

Discusses S.R. Ranganathan's five laws (books are for use, every book its reader, every reader his or her book, save the time of the reader, the library is a growing organism) and updates them (libraries serve humanity, respect all forms of knowledge, use technology intelligently to enhance service, protect free access to knowledge, honor the past…

Focuses on the philosophical leanings and humanist and spiritual qualities of five Black-American scientists--Banneker, Carver, Just, Latimer, and Julian--for whom there seemed no conflict between science and the humanities. Their writings are commended to contemporary readers for this reason. (DM)

Examines a number of issues facing the Australian library and information services community in the area of continuing education, including recommendations of the Library Association of Australia, the cost of continuing education activities, the role and responsibility of schools of library and information studies, and notions of coordination.…

The role of librarians is defined by their ability to identify user needs and then use techniques from both library and information science to meet those needs. Positions that utilize these abilities outside of the traditional library should not be considered as alternative careers. (CLB)

Describes a workshop offered by elementary library media specialists for teachers and administrators which illustrated ways in which media specialists can support and enhance curriculum. Included are detailed examples of activities and projects in social science, language arts, and science which have been implemented in Maryland schools. (CLB)

Describes an investigation that assessed the effectiveness of Australian indexing and abstracting services in their bibliographic control of the literature of library and information science. Conclusions about the coverage of the literature are presented, and methods for improvement are suggested. (CLB)