Discusses the results of a survey of academic member libraries of the ARL (Association of Research Libraries) that investigated changes in reference services over the last three years and how electronic resources have impacted them. Topics include remote users; email reference; and live virtual reference. (LRW)

Much is expected of today's school library media specialists with the many technological advances found in schools and library media centers. Oftentimes school library media specialists are spread thin in order to serve their patrons, and yet the public's demands for fast and quick access to information never stop. It pays for the school library…

This report includes national and state summary data on public libraries in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, with an introduction, selected findings, and tables. The report is based on data from the Public Libraries Survey for fiscal year 2005, and includes information on service measures such as number of users of electronic resources,…

A survey of 96 Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) member libraries in the United States and Canada was conducted to obtain information on whether and to what extent these libraries offered reference services to students by telephone. Survey results showed 89 of the 93 responding libraries reporting that they offered some form of…

Describes the implementation of the OCLC Search CD450 system with the ERIC databases at Southern Oregon State College. Technical support, learning the system, user aids, patron response, security, and future plans are discussed. An introduction to searching on the system and a sample search screen are shown. (MES)

This paper discusses the establishment of a research service in the Norwegian parliament. The first section presents some general assumptions regarding a research service in parliament. The second section describes the first initiative, a mandate in the 1970s to establish a commission to clarify the need for such a service. The third section…

Examines issues of viability and necessity regarding the Open System Interconnections (OSI) reference service model with a view on future developments. Discusses problems with the standards; conformance testing; OSI bureaucracy; standardized communications; security; the transport level; applications; the stakeholders (communications providers,…

Discusses electronic reference in libraries and how it has changed over the years with changes in computer technology. Explains technical background and history as well as library and reference impact for three stages in the development of electronic reference: the need for search intermediaries, the emergence of CD-ROMs, and user access to…

Considers problem library patrons in a virtual environment based on experiences at California Institute of Technology's Web site and its use for virtual reference. Discusses the virtual reference desk concept; global visibility and access to the World Wide Web; problematic email; and advantages in the electronic environment. (LRW)

Using the experiences at the Vanderbilt University libraries as illustrations, this article addresses several concerns faced by libraries as they implement CD-ROM technology: (1) funding issues; (2) using multiple discs; (3) networking; (4) staff training; (5) end user training; (6) CD-ROM, print, and online differences; and (7) product…

Describes an experiment that examined the effect of nonverbal communication conveyed by touch, forward lean, and smile combined with the effect of gender on patrons perceptions of the library, librarians, and themselves. Possible reasons for the lack of correlation among these factors are discussed and the questionnaire used is appended. (35…

Argues that reference librarians serve as consultants at the point of interaction as they educate patrons in the use of the online catalog and demonstrate their role in finding and providing information. Specific areas of consultation are discussed as is the relationship of formal instruction to point of use instruction. (10 references) (MES)

Explores aspects of accuracy (in the context of question answering) in reference services. Some factors that might influence accuracy include: education, attitude, reference setting, reference collection, the nature of requests, and the patron. (57 references) (Author/AEF)

Discusses academic library users who are not affiliated with the institution and considers the problems associated with them. Ethical issues are raised; possible solutions are suggested, including guidelines, bibliographic instruction, and user fees; and policies implemented at the University of California at Berkeley regarding unaffiliated users…

Describes how to use the Internet to access commercial online database services, such as DIALOG, and discusses the advantages in terms of costs, reference services, and accessibility. Outlines in detail how to save a search session or link another terminal to a Telnet session, and provides information and Internet addresses for eight vendor…