A growing number of libraries have installed wireless data connections as a way of providing access to the Internet for members of the public. Some libraries have used their wireless networks to enable staff to use wireless devices to increase their mobility, effectiveness and responsiveness to client need particularly in providing reference and…

Discusses the history of backup reference service in the state of New Jersey including the transition from regional backup service; describes the current statewide service; and considers future service possibilities in light of recent trends, including a decrease in the number of reference questions being received in libraries. (LRW)

Describes the live virtual reference service, Q and A NJ (Question and Answer New Jersey), strategies used to meet the challenges of day-to-day management, scaled growth and quality control. Describes how it began; how long it took; how to manage a large project (constant communication; training and practice; transcript analysis and privacy;…

Research methods and a comparative analysis of quantitative results of a study of the adequacy of collections and efficiency of reference services in 25 New Jersey public and county libraries are presented. Methods include use of a prepared bibliography on paleontology and a test question, both designed to be asked of reference librarians by…

The purpose of this paper is to show the growing use of the World Wide Web to answer questions in the public library from the perspective of a librarian at the Parsippany Public Library in Morris County, New Jersey. Discussion includes the following: information on Parsippany and Morris County; a brief history of the World Wide Web; uses of a…

This report describes the findings of a study conducted for the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) with two major objectives: (1) to determine how much it costs two State Contract Libraries (the Central Library of the Newark Public Library and the Bureau of Law and Reference of the New Jersey State Library) to provide supplemental question handling…

This summary reports the findings of a study conducted for the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) with two major objectives: (1) to determine how much it costs two State Contract Libraries (the Central Library of the Newark Public Library and the Bureau of Law and Reference of the New Jersey State Library) to provide supplemental question handling…

This report contains annex materials from a study conducted for the New Jersey State Library (NJSL) with two major objectives: (1) to determine how much it costs two state contract libraries--the Central Library of the Newark Public Library and the Bureau of Law and Reference of the New Jersey State Library--to provide supplemental question…

Procedures for indexing local history pictures, both individual and in books, are explained in this manual, based on practices of the Newark, New Jersey Public Library. Details are provided about format of catalog cards; rationale for various pieces of information on the cards; the use of locality, with subheadings, as main entry; use of added…

Discusses "Night Owl," a Maryland public library's after hours telephone reference service. Issues include project start-up, user profiles, types of questions, volume, after hours reference accessibility, security, costs, service limits, publicity, staffing, and employee turnover. Similar services in other states are cited. (Contains six…