Examines Villanova University's decision to stop selling Cliffs Notes in its bookstore and attitudes toward Cliffs Notes, highlighting honest work, shortcuts, serious research, critical thinking, and original thinking. Provides the following advice for librarians: avoid being parental; avoid unexamined judgments; and avoid undervaluing Cliffs…

The reference interview is a critical function of reference work; what a librarian says and does can either build a relationship of trust and satisfaction with patrons, or serve to distance them from librarians. This pilot study examined the attitudes of academic and public librarians toward the reference interview. Librarians from Kent State…

Compares a digital reference service that uses instant messaging with traditional, face-to-face reference based on experiences at the Southern Illinois University library. Addresses differences in reference questions asked, changes in the reference transaction, student expectations, bibliographic instruction, and librarian attitudes and procedures…

Discusses the issues involved with setting the tone for a library instruction session and emphasizes the importance of the first five minutes of the class. Topics include adequate planning; making contact with students; student attitudes and library anxiety; librarians' anxiety; and setting the tone for lifelong learning. (Author/LRW)

Discusses administration, leadership, and management in academic libraries. Factors that meet the work-related needs of librarians and that lead to successful management are suggested, including sufficient knowledge, a measure of control over work, participation in decision making, and a sense of ownership in library service. (three references)…

Discussion of the participation of technical services librarians in academic bibliographic instruction focuses on the results of a survey of 124 cataloging librarians in State University of New York libraries that investigated the extent of their participation in bibliographic instruction activities. A copy of the survey is appended. (LRW)

Discussion of the role of cataloging education within the library profession focuses on results of a survey of members of the Association of Research Libraries that investigated the importance of cataloging competencies for all entry-level academic librarians. Discusses implications for library education for academic librarians and for the…

Describes an exploratory research project that examined how novice college students and Web-savvy librarians initially envisioned the Internet and how these representations changed over time and with experience. (AEF)

Arguing that games which simulate real-world situations and events have proven to be effective educational tools, this paper suggests that they may also offer an added educational dimension to academic library collections. Twenty-five academic libraries were surveyed to determine librarians' perceptions of the academic value of games and…

This survey of 84 librarians from 42 ARL (Association of Research Libraries) libraries that confer faculty status examined whether library faculty are given release time to engage in research, whether libraries have written policies regarding research time, and whether there are differences in working conditions between technical and public…

Describes an unobtrusive study of the ability of professional librarians to deal with factual questions that was conducted at Illinois State University. Evaluation of the accuracy of responses is discussed, the responsiveness and helpfulness of librarians is examined, attitude scores are described, and implications for improving reference service…

Spector's Job Satisfaction Survey was used to measure the job satisfaction of librarians in the three English-language universities in the Province of Quebec, Canada. Results showed that though librarians working in these institutions are generally satisfied, they are dissatisfied with communication and operating procedures. The relationship…

A questionnaire survey sent to 75 of the 134 Ohio academic library directors elicited 59 respondents in a study of faculty status for academic librarians. Results show that only 42% of libraries assign librarians faculty rank, even though 61% of directors favor it, and 64% think librarians themselves favor it. Some Association of College and…

One hundred fifty academic libraries were surveyed to determine if professorial note photocopying services were a factor in any decline in use of reserve by faculty at their institutions. Eighty-six responses were received. While they did not feel that use of library reserve services were being jeopardized, respondents indicated a number of…

Reports findings of a survey of 48 undergraduate students regarding their perceptions of academic librarians and discusses ideas for addressing existing misconceptions. Highlights include perceptions concerning librarians' education; librarians' skills, knowledge, and expertise; librarians versus clerical workers; and librarians' attitudes toward…