A cost analysis was made of on-line bibliographic searching in four public libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area using the Lockheed DIALOG system. The study involved monitoring the time that 35 individuals in the libraries spent processing some 411 search requests. The study identified a set of seven tasks that are performed for each request and…

The public library is often regarded as serving peripheral rather than vital needs of the community. Because funding is limited, people need to be made aware of the library's potential role in society. Society has become information rich with increased white collar jobs and growth of the information segment of education, research and development,…

Investigates the relationships between reference performance (dependent) variables and various quantifiable reference service characteristics (independent variables such as reference collection size). Statistical analysis indicated that reference performance was significantly related to the size of the reference collection, and to other…

Discussion of implications of highly decentralized nature of local government for collection of local documents highlights meaning of access, effect of local government environment on access to local government information, library responses, and tools that can assist libraries in increasing citizen and government access to local government…

This profile of INFORM, the fee-based service offered by Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center, highlights its background, online search services and frequently used databases, major planning considerations (equipment, user aids, choice of vendor, training), internal operations (billing, purchasing items for clients), marketing, and…

Discussion of videotex services for the general adult public and students covers investment by information provider (public libraries) and costs to user of a home system, problems of training for home use of telereference services, and six factors to be considered before introducing videotex services in the library. (EJS)

The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) is charged with improving library services throughout the state to ensure that all citizens have access to quality library and information services. Part of this charge includes the responsibility for receiving and administering federal funds to the more than 200 public libraries in Alabama. Federal…

The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) is charged with improving library services throughout the state to ensure that all citizens have access to quality library and information services. Part of this charge includes the responsibility for receiving and administering federal funds to the more than 200 public libraries in Alabama. Federal…

Examines history of online information retrieval services in North American in general and in Canada specifically. The current situation is assessed on the basis of results of a recent national survey and the issue of charging for these services is discussed. Twelve references are cited. (EJS)

This description of experiments with the use of videotex systems in British public libraries includes activities and undertakings sponsored by the British Library Research and Development Department, commercial and public videotex services in the U.K., and videotex projects initiated by library associations such as ASLIB. (JL)

The research that is reported was done to describe some of the conditions under which or because of which information service is provided in small, rural public libraries, and suggests some of the problems that are endemic to such service. (Author/FM)

Presents a planning guide for implementation of online services at a public library, consisting of: (1) identification of public service goals and online reference objectives, (2) needs assessment, (3) manipulating the political environment, (4) project description, (5) time schedule, (6) preliminary budget, and (7) evaluation. (SW)

Summarizes national survey findings of email reference services in academic and public libraries; describes types of email reference services for selected Colorado libraries; and focuses on a detailed overview and analysis of two years of Colorado State University's email reference experiences. (Author/LRW)

To compile a list of recommended electronic databases for rural libraries, public library patron questions received by the Arizona State Reference Center were searched on ten databases. The results indicated Books in Print, Magazine Database, ABI/INFORM, Public Affairs Information System (PAIS), and Government Printing Office (GPO) Publications…

Information on freebasing cocaine was requested from reference librarians at six public and seven academic libraries. None of the librarians refused to offer assistance, although assistance varied in its extensiveness. None of the encounters involved a reference interview or bibliographic instruction. Arguments in support of information…