Research design is a product of the scientific method in Western Civilization whose major purposes are to eliminate the biased judgements of individual researchers and to ensure replication of the study. In general, the formal protocol of the research design includes several elements: theoretical position out of which the hypotheses to be tested…

The existence of problems in libraries has two significant dimensions: the theoretical and the practical even though to a large extent problems occur mainly in the minds of people. The orientation of this manual is therefore entirely practical and introductory to the point of being useful with any library staff regardless of size. Even librarians…

A general theory and taxonomy of human communication is discussed within which the information handling propensities of the special librarian can be evaluated for relevance to the axioms of library and information science. (Author)

Interviewing as it is developed in this publication is a disciplined encounter technique for counselors and reference librarians who wish to be more effective in serving the individual patron. There seems to be two polar types of patrons: those who will not talk, and those who will not stop talking. Without training, librarians tend to rush…

Media materials and services may be used for two different but closely related purposes: motivating people to participate in informational and educational experiences, and motivating them to learn. As more librarians and patrons begin to use the audiovisual media they may be induced to question conventional principles of composition and work to…

The purpose of this manual is to provide a guide to the inservice training of librarians for community liaison through the group work process. The manual was developed for the supervisor participants in the Institute on Discovery Management for Supervisors of Library Branches Serving the Underprivileged and Emerging Communities and is a companion…

The contents of this publication include the background papers used at the Institute on Discovery Management for Supervisors of Library Branches Serving the Underprivileged and Emerging Community held July 26-August 13, 1971 at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh. It is the purpose of this publication…

The papers in the first section of this publication develop an understanding of the background, purpose and functions of advisory counseling in libraries. The purpose of the papers in the second section is to delineate the interrelationships of information transfer and meaning transfer and to lay out a background where flexibility can be developed…

Three papers are presented which delineate the foundation of theory and principles which underlie the research and instructional approach to communications at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Pittsburgh. Cybernetic principles provide the integration, and validation is based in part on a situation-producing…

This preliminary work in human communication for librarians is designed to help the library profession address itself to significant communication problems. As they relate to the library and information sciences, the three major areas of communication science covered are: (1) History and theory of communication and culture, organization and…

The following skills are required for librarians to serve effectively as learning consultants: (1) analyze social and educational trends and discern learning needs; (2) analyze the competencies needed by librarians; (3) identify methods appropriate to achieve self-learning goals; (4) design learning sequences; (5) given client characteristics,…