The purpose of the project described in this paper was to gather information about online/CD-ROM database systems that would be useful in improving the services offered at the University of Findlay, a small private liberal arts college in northwestern Ohio. A survey was sent to 67 libraries serving colleges similar in size which included questions…

This research study involved a systematic investigation into the relationships among: (1) the techniques used by search analysts during preliminary interviews with users before engaging in online retrieval of bibliographic citations; (2) the amount of new information gained by the user as a result of the search; and (3) the user's ultimate…

The 23 articles in this theme issue focus on various aspects of library services to business in an information economy: "Serving Business in an Information Economy" (C. Bain); "New York's Resurging Economy and State Economic Development Information" (R. G. Paolino); "Department of Economic Development Library: Services to…

Data processing was introduced to public libraries in Hawaii in 1973 with a feasibility study which outlined the candidate areas for automation. Since then, the Office of Library Services has automated the order procedures for one of the largest book processing centers for public libraries in the country; created one of the first COM…

A brief discussion of the development of a handbook to be used as a training aid by student assistants in the reference room of a university library and a review of the literature on such training introduce a handbook which was developed at Mankato State University. Designed to provide both informational sections and programed exercises to aid new…

One in a series of bibliographies related to rural library service, this document lists 164 entries dealing with reference services. The entries, dated from 1970 to 1978, are listed alphabetically by author with complete bibliographic information and consist primarily of national and regional library journals (nearly all published in the United…

Papers from an institute on the university's role in information networks are presented. Two introductory papers define networks in general and consider reasons for their existence in academic libraries. Five papers describe operational networks: Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), Stanford's BALLOTS system, the Minnesota Interlibrary Teletype…

An instructional module designed to help librarians learn to identify and negotiate reference questions is presented and discussed. The instructional module consists of an essay on performance of negotiation as a decision-making step in the reference process, and exercises for identification of queries that should be negotiated. A videotape which…

At Stanford University, two major projects have been involved jointly in library automation and information retrieval since 1968: BALLOTS (Bibliographic Automation of Large Library Operations) and SPIRES (Stanford Physics Information Retrieval System). In early 1969, two prototype applications were activated using the jointly developed systems…

After a summary of background knowledge useful in searching for information, the authors cover extensively the sources available to the researcher interested in locating educational data or conducting a search of bibliographic materials. They list reference books, dictionaries, almanacs, yearbooks, subject matter summaries; and sources for…

Describes an exchange program between academic libraries in Sichuan Province and Washington State University, and discusses the Chinese approach to academic librarianship in the areas of management and personnel, access and circulation, automation, reference services, collection development and censorship, and library facilities. (CLB)

The widespread implementation of search protocols, primarily Z39.50, in combination with the spread of the World Wide Web makes possible a high degree of integration and standardization of search services. This paper describes a project which seeks to combine in a seamless fashion the searching of periodical indexes and library OPACs with document…

This study examines 104 articles on the fee versus free controversy in libraries, written primarily between the years of 1992 and 1997. The content analysis assesses the types of libraries that charges fees--academic, public, school, or special; who is charged--everyone, businesses and their personnel, law firms and lawyers; and what services the…

K-12 students and teachers can use the Internet for planning science fair activities--for project ideas, resources, and interactive Web sites. Lists 26 science Web sites specializing in question answering, activities, experiments, optics, math, dissection, inventions, physics, space, genetics, cockroaches and worms, and Twinkies (sponge cakes).…

Discusses current and potential applications of the Internet in school libraries. Topics include electronic mail; listservs; professional communication; reference and information services; information about resources; school library administration; curriculum applications; Internet access for library users; and the library as information provider,…