Reports on research that focused on competence and performance of reference libraries in academic libraries in Nigeria. Includes recommendations for improving competence and performance, including the reference process; staffing and other resources; education for reference librarians; knowledge of modern technology; and emotional stability and…

Discusses measurement and evaluation as ways to justify reference work to users and library administration. A trivia contest is cited as a way to achieve public recognition, and measuring use of reference materials rather than the number of reference questions is recommended. User surveys and other measures of reference activity and value are also…

Presents an overview of the literature on reference services for quantitative social research; differentiates between data for information and data for research; suggests a general approach to providing services for these materials based on traditional archives and government documents reference; and gives a practical framework for handling…

Argues that patrons in a publicly supported academic library come from the general community as well as from the university, and include children, adolescents, and business people. The importance of recognizing the needs of various user groups and budgetary and staff limitations are stressed along with setting future priorities. (28 references)…

Reviews the use of CD-ROM technology in libraries. Topics addressed include personal computers and CD-ROM; possible futures of CD-ROM technology; the organization of CD-ROMs; workstations; help for users; remote access; delivery systems; and providing reference services to CD-ROM users. (Contains nine references.) (LRW)

Discusses the need for appropriate continuing professional education for reference librarians. Topics addressed include issues of competence; professional and ethical responsibility; certification and licensure; and continuing education and the new model that focuses on user needs. (Contains 12 references.) (LRW)

Offers an implausible view of reference services by proposing that librarians anticipate questions and provide a kind of preventive service. A tongue-in-cheek survey of nonlibrary users is described and supposedly analyzed with the conclusion reached that traditional reference service is fine. (EAM)

Reprints the introduction to a past theme issue that discussed library instruction and reference services in academic and public libraries. Topics include library instruction as part of public services; and two main viewpoints of library instruction, one of which believes in its value and one which believes it is unnecessary. (LRW)

Discussion of ethical reference practice focuses on guidelines for the individual reference librarian's interactions with clients. Topics include the professional-client relationship; competence; diligence; confidentiality; independence of judgment; honesty and candor; and obligations to third parties, including the democratic society at large.…

Reflects on the application of peer coaching to the reference environment, suggests strategies for implementation, and relates peer coaching to the evaluation of reference effectiveness. Discusses behaviors specific to the reference interview and evaluating how well users are served. (Author/LRW)

Reviews existing programs for inservice training of professional reference librarians and discusses the changing roles of reference librarians and ways to determine components of a staff training program (e.g., performance functions of reference librarians and use of videotaping to analyze the librarian's ability to communicate effectively). (14…

Traces the development of cooperation between reference librarians and catalogers, highlighting cooperative goals, role of the library catalog in meeting informational requirements of patrons, involvement of catalog librarians in library instruction, and patterns of library organization. Future trends are discussed. Twenty sources are given. (EJS)

Identifies Internet sites that can be helpful to the business reference librarian confronted with questions regarding international trade. The sites for the major trade agreements are listed along with a currency exchange calculator that can handle date-specific historical conversions. (AEF)

While revised ethical codes provide helpful guidelines, reference archivists face many ethical questions raised by rapidly evolving technology, changing expectations, and inconsistent privacy laws that have no clear answers. Discusses issues related to reference searching, codification of ethics, cultural property and the responsibility of…

Historical review covers: (1) the rise of research and research libraries, 1850-1900; (2) the genesis of reference service, 1875-95; (3) the growth of reference service in the research libraries, 1896-1916; (4) reference practices in the research libraries, 1896-1916; (5) legislative and municipal reference work, 1900-16; and (6) current trends…