This Handbook explains the services and policies of the Library and Information Division. Since October 1957, the Public Housing Administration, the Federal Housing Administration and the Office of the Administrator Libraries were consolidated into one Library. The Program Information Center was added, additional Regional Office libraries were…

With the emergence of Web help services, libraries are no longer the lone providers of information. Today's researchers need to find quickly information that is usable, relevant, authoritative, and verifiable. To meet that need, libraries must adapt traditional strengths of acquiring, describing, and serving information to an environment that is…

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)

Examines the effectiveness of a framework developed to measure service quality in academic libraries. The research, which was conducted in the seven university libraries of New Zealand during 1996 concluded that the survey questionnaire administered is an effective instrument for testing service quality. (AEF)

Reference librarians will find numerous opportunities for effective patron referrals on the Internet. This paper describes selected sites from organizations, academic departments and the private sector which offer useful information on psychology. The sites included are chosen for their uniqueness, credibility, and usefulness. (Author)

Describes part of a project designed to develop a user-based approach to measuring the extent to which services provided by librarians meet or exceed user expectations on a consistent basis. Results show that academics and librarians have similar expectations, but there are differences in the emphasis each group places on aspects of service.…

Discusses issues raised by the development of remote reference. Two scenarios are proposed: (1) how Internet users and their information-seeking behavior challenge the traditional reference service model, its value system, and the librarian role in that model, and (2) a model of close linkages between librarians and users engaged as partners along…

Focuses on possibilities for providing reference service to remote users of digital collections. Discusses international digital reference networks; factors that limit global electronic reference service; and drawbacks of e-mail and use of real-time interactive technologies for the reference encounter. Highlights some pioneering projects. (AEF)

Using a case study approach that compares original and reprint articles from two newspapers, this article examines the consequences of not integrating media literacy skills into reference service. Librarians should be aware of the issues involved in how the print media selects and presents daily news. Figures 1-6 graph word count differences.…

The Internet Public Library (IPL), hosted by the University of Michigan School of Information is an operating virtual library that answers reference questions from all over the world. Discussion includes the construct of the IPL Reference Center, how the Reference Center handles questions, and characteristics of e-mail reference service. (AEF)

Results of a study that evaluated 21 diverse services at 5 major academic research libraries demonstrate that a cross-functional approach to library services is feasible. Findings also highlight a new measure of impact, which is a weighted logarithmic combination of the amount of time that users spend interacting with the service, combined with a…

First defining and tracing the historical background of home schooling in the United States, this paper then researches how home schooling families are using computers and online technologies. Two separate surveys were conducted. The first was a voice-to-voice survey to determine a computer usage baseline from a population of 103 home schooling…

The School Library Media Services Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Education administered the operation of AdvancE as Pennsylvania's adult education clearinghouse. The goal of the project was to provide Pennsylvania's adult educators with prompt access to information and resources to help them implement the most effective administrative…

This study investigates the availability and practicality of using affordable commercial document delivery systems instead of conventional interlibrary loan (ILL) to provide California State College, Bakersfield (CSB), Library users with periodical literature from off-site locations. The purpose, limits, conceptual framework, and importance of the…

This study surveys the current involvement of public libraries in the provision of information and referral services to the communities they serve. Data were gathered via questionnaire from 125 public libraries nationwide to ascertain their level of involvement in advocacy, case management or tracking, direct client interviewing, escort services,…