The Portable Librarian'' concept consists of a reference librarian who goes from place to place throughout the library building offering assistance to the timorous'' and the confused.'' (NH)

Society judges the accountability and dependability of librarians and libraries. Reference librarians must collect and use as many facts as possible in measuring services. (KP)

The value of the verification of requests for periodical articles as recommended by the Interlibrary Loan Procedure Manual'' is brought to issue. (1 reference) (Author/NH)

Cost benefit accounting is not being used in academic reference libraries today but administrators are beginning to require quantitative evaluation of services provided. Several systems are described and evaluated. (35 references) (DH)

Discusses the controversy over whether or not libraries should charge fees for online bibliographic services, reviews the evidence for imposing fees, for maintaining free services, and outlines the relevance of certain sections of the United States Code to decisions concerning the provision of information. Twenty-four references are included. (JL)

Describes results of a survey of heads of interlibrary loan at Association of Research Libraries (ARL) academic libraries that was conducted in 1988. Highlights include location; personnel organization; staffing patterns, including librarians, nonprofessionals, and student assistants; and services offered, including document delivery and the use…

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…

Presents the results of a survey of academic libraries belonging to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) concerning the availability and accessibility of OCLC (via dedicated or dial access terminals) for use by reference personnel. The methodology of the survey is described and data are presented in five tables. (JL)

Describes a survey that profiles faculty use and perceptions of the academic library and identifies specific predictors of faculty perceptions of library performance. Differences by rank and academic area are highlighted, and then used to develop action plans for overall liaison programs and for individual liaisons between libraries and…

In an experimental selective dissemination program, public library patrons were supplied with printed booklists based on individual subject preferences.

Procedures for developing quantitative measures of reference service are described. Through individual interviews, researchers compiled a list of 93 activities performed by the staff. Each activity was evaluated by the staff in four categories: importance, interest, complexity, confidence. (JAB)

Today's library users prefer a less formal relationship with the reference librarian. Library schools are responding to this trend by offering courses in communications strategy. Library researchers recommend sensitivity training for librarians. (JAB)

A pilot study at the University of Arkansas proved the success of a manual system of selective dissemination of information for researchers. Forms, a summary of activities, and an evaluative questionnaire are included. (LS)

The study reported here was conducted to determine whether local decision makers have information needs that can be elicited by direct contact, whether their questions could be answered through the resources of a research library, and, if so, whether the public library could have served as well. (Author/JAB)

Six decision-making steps of the reference process were isolated through development of a model reference query. Instructional modules for each of the steps are described. The program is suitable for library school students or library paraprofessionals. (JAB)