Focuses on organizing and accessing federal documents in the public library. Highlights include reference service; staff training; access to the collection; collection maintenance; volunteers and community service workers; electronic products and public programs. (AEF)

As the need to access information increases, school librarians must create virtual libraries. Linked to reliable reference resources, the virtual library extends the physical collection and library hours and lets students learn to use Web-based resources in a protected learning environment. The growing number of virtual schools increases the need…

Explores ways librarians are using the Web for instruction and to support faculty use of the Web for teaching. Topics include identifying user characteristics and needs, including remote access; library planning; Web-based tools for user instruction, including tutorials; electronic reference; Web pages for courses, including faculty collaboration;…

Examines the effects of compact disk technology on a medium-sized academic library. Statistical data before and after the acquisition of compact disk indexes are compared in the areas of staff training; librarians' teaching loads; reference desk activity; periodicals acquisition, use, and retention; interlibrary loan activity; and online…

Libraries are moving to an environment where information resources are located worldwide and can be accessed from remote locations. Librarians need to free themselves from the constraints of the reference desk. Implementing a hierarchical model with a mix of librarian and nonlibrarian staffing can improve user services. (JMV)

Discusses ways in which academic and public librarians can provide help with multicultural and international topics in spite of unhelpful subject headings and weak collections, including an awareness of cultural bias; collection policies to support diversity; relearning the collections and access strategies; and restructuring reference searches.…

Examines Margaret Edwards' contribution to young adult services against the backdrop of contemporary ideas and practices. The following issues of young adult librarianship are discussed: Edwards and young adult literature; the balance between readers' advisory and reference services; and the role of the young adult librarian. (JLB)

Assessed library instruction initiatives with respect to OPACs by surveying 414 academic, public, school, and special libraries. Most participants' libraries have modified library OPAC software; librarians continue to teach use of the online catalog; few systems have built-in tutorials; and few have computer-assisted instruction. (Author/JKP)

Discusses the incorporation of CD-ROM technology into Georgia State University's William Russell Pullen Library, and considers its impact on reference services and bibliographic instruction. Concludes that technology increases the need for critical thinking skills, faculty-librarian interaction, and human resources for reference and technical…

Discusses a decline in patron requests for librarian-mediated searches of MEDLINE at Yale University's medical library and describes results of a survey that was conducted to determine possible reasons. The influences of miniMEDLINE (an in-house version), online end-user systems, and CD-ROMs outside the library are examined. (five references) (LRW)

Describes programs at the Redwood City Public Library (California), winner of the Library of the Year Award from Gale Research Inc. and "Library Journal." Highlights include a newly renovated building; a mission statement that reflects the library's role; staff development; increases in circulation and reference; children's services; and…

Four articles address traditional mediation in library services, including the librarian as mediator, the reference librarian as information intermediary, recommitment to patrons' information needs, and mediation in reference service to extend patron success. (87 references) (LRW)

Five papers discuss topics related to the USMARC Community Information Format (CIF), including using CIF to create a public service resource network; development of a CIF-based database of materials relating to multicultural and differently-abled populations; background on CIF; development of an information and referral database; and CIF and…

Describes a study of the current usage and status of CD-ROM products. Results of a survey of academic and research libraries that covered products owned or subscribed to, how they are paid for, numbers of workstations, usage, and cost are reported. The years 1984-85 and 1989-90 are compared. Cancellation of print sources is also addressed.…

Discussion of reference service in a changing information environment focuses on a survey of basic reference courses in American Library Association (ALA) accredited programs that was conducted to investigate how library school students are being educated for reference service. Highlights include course content; teaching methods; learning…