Describes Ohio's Library Leadership 2000 (LL2000) institute, an intensive leadership training program for Ohio librarians designed to provide effective leadership skills necessary for use in a rapidly changing environment. A sidebar lists the LL2000 mentors. (JLB)

Discusses reference librarians' dissatisfaction with their profession and the resulting negative attitudes toward library education, the professional literature, and the users. Teaching reference courses is suggested as a method of overcoming these negative attitudes. (Contains three references.) (LRW)

Characterizes the rhetoric of three articles from a 1991 Library Quarterly symposium on the closing of graduate library school programs as self-serving. The effect of placing the issue in a context of victimization is criticized. Changing social forces and a poor theoretical base are considered as possible causes of program failures. (eight…

Discussion of the use of academic libraries by external users focuses on a study that investigated how libraries deal with local business people as external users. Literature on external access to academic libraries is reviewed, and fee-based information services are considered. (42 references) (LRW)

Describes two current studies in New South Wales (Australia) that examined the position of children's librarian in public libraries. One developed a profile of children's librarians and investigated how they rated themselves as managerial leaders; the other examined the recruitment and retention of children's and young adult librarians. (five…

An instrument for measuring service quality was developed in Singapore's polytechnic libraries, based on previous work done in New Zealand. Focus groups of academic librarians reported on their understanding of service quality. Contrasts between the two instruments are examined. The time lapse between the projects accounts for some variation. A…

Explains libraries' roles in protecting intellectual freedom. Outlines these faulty impressions: librarians endorse the content of their collections; "everyone" agrees on controversial material; representation of all viewpoints means equal numbers; and denial of reconsideration requests indicates librarians don't take challenges seriously.…

Reports findings from a survey that examined job preparedness of library directors at four-year colleges in twelve midwestern states. Examines qualifications possessed at the time each position was obtained and skills and abilities directors felt were essential to surviving and doing well in their positions. (Author/AEF)

Offers a practitioner's views and experiences on how librarians can collaborate successfully with information technology (IT) professionals without losing their identities as librarians in a corporate environment. Discusses information science core competencies; components of information systems; human interaction, including mutual trust; and…

Describes a survey of midsized academic libraries that measured the departmental relationship between librarians who provide reference services and librarians who provide instructional services. Discusses satisfaction levels with various organizational arrangements as well as pros and cons of integrated or separate reference and instruction…

A librarian at Southern Oregon University who became the campus Webmaster examines whether this new role was outside his job description, or a redefinition/expansion of an existing position. Discussion includes colleagues' differing reactions; how he became the campus Webmaster; what the library gains and loses; and perspective on the future of…

Describes a study of Nigerian university and research librarians that examined the relationships between knowledge, training, and experience of librarians on the use of computers and their attitudes towards the computer. Results indicate that there are significant relationships between these variables and computer attitudes. (Author/LRW)

Reports on results of an exploratory study of perceptions of collections by librarians in an academic library that provides both traditional and networked information services. Five librarians from a Midwestern university library were interviewed. Findings indicated an uncertainty about the virtual world in two particular areas: collection and…

For many students who have a mild to moderate learning, emotional, social, or mental problems, the school librarian is an unparalleled resource, and the library becomes a refuge and an important support system outside of the general classroom. This article provides a brief review of literature and concrete information on creating a supportive…

This paper describes a study designed to determine the status of the vertical file in public high school libraries in one Illinois county. The purpose of the study was to examine how vertical files were maintained, promoted, and used in the libraries. The data were collected via telephone and on-site interviews. All 22 library media centers in…