This book, first published in 1989, examines the problems and benefits of installing a ready-made computer system in a sci-tech library. These systems, usually known as turnkey systems, provide a means for obtaining the network for a lower cost than a new system designed by a consultant. These papers analyse the benefits and problems with turnkey systems in a variety of different situations.

Through its discussions on planning, using space, and selecting equipment and furnishings, this book, first published in 1988, provides guidance for those who have little or no experience in designing a facility for a special library - one that serves a corporation, government agency, non-profit organization, professional society, or a special subject-oriented library located in an academic institution or public library. Its text is stimulating yet sound, and will serve not only librarians planning new facilities but also those involved in remodelling or renovating existing facilities. The appendices contain descriptions and layouts of four typical libraries, each showing the result of careful, creative planning.

This book, first published in 1986, is a practical resource to planning science and technology libraries. Librarians who have been through the process offer guidelines, an awareness of problems to anticipate, and solutions to them.

This book, first published in 1984, examines the process of building suitable collections for sci-tech libraries. Sci-tech collections are not the easiest to develop successfully in view of the complexity of the subjects involved, the large number of choices to make, and the difficulty of even knowing about certain grey area publications, such as meetings proceedings, government documents and technical reports. Expert writers assess these difficulties and provide a guide to solutions to the problems inherent in building these collections.

In response to the general lack of information about zoo libraries, this book, first published in 1988, compiles a collection of descriptions of the libraries serving six American zoos. The accounts of zoo libraries include the National Zoological Park in Washington, DC, the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and the Minnesota Zoological Garden Library in St. Paul. The contributors detail the types of collections and services offered at zoo libraries. In addition, a survey made of 78 American zoo libraries is included, including information about their staffs, facilities, collections, and services, as well as data on 32 archive collections.

Maps, charts and related items present special problems to libraries, for example a less organised bibliographic control mechanism, more difficult means of acquisitions, and problems of storage and preservation. This book, first published in 1985, deals with these problems and presents practical solutions for maps in library collections.

This book, first published in 1990, illustrates the nature and use of sci-tech information in relation to the environment. Sci-tech librarians, government researchers, and compilers and editors of noted indexing/abstracting services describe the efforts of their organizations to compile, maintain, and disseminate the large body of sci-tech information devoted to environmental concerns. It includes informative chapters on: a description of the Environmental Protection Agency's network of 25 libraries throughout the country, including details of the services offered by the network and the collections of the ten regional libraries and 15 specialized or scientific libraries; a review of the growth of the non-profit, non-advocacy Center for Environmental Information, Inc., with a look at its library and its programs such as the Acid Rain Information Clearinghouse; an examination of the American Chemical Society's journals, books, newsletters, meeting abstracts, and other publications devoted to environmental matters; a look at the Adirondack Research Center and its contributions to furthering the efforts of researchers who study conservation topics as they relate to this important area; and an acknowledgement of the important role played by commercial bibliographies and databases in the quest to rapidly disseminate new information on environmental issues.

This book, first published in 1990, examines the relationship between sci-tech materials and trade literature, commonly called manufacturers' catalogues. Because very little has been published about the value and nature of trade literature in regard to sci-tech libraries, this volume is important in informing librarians about a little-known segment of the larger picture of sci-tech information sources, thus adding to the value of their services to their clients. It addresses the problems of handling sci-tech trade literature in a corporate technical library, a large public library, and a government library devoted to American history. Experts offer practical advice on selecting and organizing trade literature and on managing the growth and extent of a collection of trade literature. They discuss modern literature and older publications, which often have great historical value. Libraries that collect both old and new materials are identified, as are publishers of trade literature. The book also focuses on how a publisher of classic trade literature views its role.

This book, first published in 1983, examines translation sources and their activities, as well as ways in which librarians can become aware of what has been translated, and obtain copies. The sci-tech literature of the world reflects the international nature of its sources, and is published in many languages. There are many avenues available for obtaining translations of such materials, and this book is devoted to a review of these sources and their activities.

This book, first published in 1990, analyses the variety of ways in which libraries extend their resources to users beyond the physical walls of their organization. Librarians discuss the concept of the library as more than just a place - since its holdings can now appear on the screen of users' computers in the same city or in a city hundreds of miles away - but rather as a force that electronically links users directly with both local and remote sources of information. Six informative chapters examine electronic information systems and document delivery from the local collection to the workplace, between system libraries and from non-library sources. Readers can look first hand at some of the most sophisticated and widespread systems in the country, including four academic libraries that promote electronic services to remote users and two special libraries offering innovative services. The authoritative contributing authors also forecast new systems and services.

This book, first published in 1989, introduces readers to expert systems applications in many areas of library and information science, and presents design and implementation issues encountered by librarians who have developed early systems to address the library reference function. Systems for ready reference, online database access, and enhancement of subject searching in online catalogues are all explored. Theoretical issues related to expert systems are balanced with descriptions of actual systems currently operating or under development. Reference librarians interested in computing and automation, library managers and administrators, as well as teachers and students in library schools, will be fascinated by this account of how expert systems are helping to make the expertise of the reference librarian available in a more consistent and timely fashion and reduce the burden of repetitive, predictable questions for the professional.

In this comprehensive volume on the reference process in archives, first published in 1986, experts offer a wealth of ideas on making both the reference archivist's and the user's tasks more exciting and enjoyable.

The contradictory yet complementary relationship between libraries and information brokers is examined in this volume, first published in 1988. Since its escalation in the 1960s, information brokering has challenged the role of the library in society. Librarians discuss their concerns about information brokers - the impact of brokers on reference services, the competence of brokers, abuse of library services by brokers, and whether libraries should provide competing fee-based services. Brokers share their own view as 'entrepreneurs', providing background, offering advice, and explaining the risks involved in their business. This lively, often controversial discussion offers suggestions for improving relations between libraries and information brokers, while continuing to serve the public well.

This book, first published in 1987, provides important information on reference publishing, including valuable guidelines on evaluating publications and sources. The articles contained here are all written by leading experts in the field.

This book, first published in 1986, discusses reference personnel concerns and problems and offers suggestions to administration and management for improving reference personnel performance and staff development.

The library budget, a topic of primary importance to the reference librarian, is thoroughly examined in this book, first published in 1988. Experts offer insightful suggestions for reference librarians to understand and take responsibility for budget issues, directly and indirectly. They address the ability to explain the budget - which actually entails explaining the collection, the services, and the process in place for managing the fiscal resources - a necessary skill for any reference librarian faced with looming budget cuts. Providing quality services on a limited budget is also explored. The contributors provide helpful essays on convincing the parent agency to provide adequate support, setting goals and priorities, generating revenue, and more.

This book, first published in 1991, explores the changing roles of reference services and offers advice and practical ideas to guide librarians through the increasingly tangled maze of duties being thrust upon the reference staff. Although the everyday work of the reference librarian is often taken for granted, these insightful chapters illuminate the essential service performed by the reference librarians as they facilitate access to information for a wide variety of users. Furthermore, this book helps reference librarians face the future by examining the technological and service developments that will challenge their profession. It addresses unique reference problems such as making use of the telephone as an information gathering tool, selecting reference material for the interdisciplinary field of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER), and helping non-law students with legal research. Topics related to information systems are examined such as the limitations of end-user online services, and an evaluation of the Library of Congress Information system. Authoritative contributors make recommendations on how to design services to coordinate with the new technology and how to change librarians' roles so they can assist people in using these systems.

This book, first published in 1990, addresses the concerns of librarians that they must be informed and educated in order to excel in their work. It focuses on specific types of training for librarians. Authorities explain pioneering programs in California and Maryland which deal with teaching basic reference tools to beginning librarians and paraprofessionals. They also discuss the role of multitype networks in continuing education as the most cost and time efficient means available today, and the use of self-directed contract learning as a method that requires long-term planning and rewards in contrast to the immediate results of a short-term plan of education. The management perspective of continuing education is also included. Working library directors offer their observations on sound, inspirational approaches to continuing education. They also examine the critical role department heads play as mentor to beginning reference librarians.

This book, first published in 1986, provides a comprehensive and detailed look at online biomedical database searching by end users. Experts fully assess the numerous implications of end user searching and synthesize a wide variety of views and successful practices. By examining the types of users, institutional settings, products used, and applications, this important volume probes the specific variations among programs and provides a solid overview of end user searching in the health science field. The volume includes informative chapters on determining content and structure of online educational materials, training the end user, the issues in implementing end user search systems, and much more.

This book, first published in 1982, is specifically devoted to the analysis of problems, innovative practices, and advances relating to the control and servicing of technical reports.

This book, first published in 1992, examines the reference librarian's role as a connecting link between information seekers and the resources they need. It provides the best approaches to providing resolutions or guidance to the appropriate resources. It analyses librarians' reference skills, communication abilities, accuracy in responding to specific inquiries, and sensitivity to various groups such as paraprofessionals and non-traditional patrons. This provocative book encourages librarians to go beyond merely providing an answer or resource to helping clients better understand the physical surroundings, the social or educational context, and the ethical, political and economic climate in which the process takes place.

This book, first published in 1982, offers an examination of the special nature of biochemistry collections. It focuses on the production, control, and use of the literature - diverse in nature, and analysed here by specialist contributors.

This book, first published in 1984, analyses the various ways in which sci-tech libraries are meeting the needs of end-users in an era of fast-growing technical literature and increasingly complex tools and products used for the retrieval of information.

This book, first published in 1986, focuses on valuable information to all public library professionals who have questions about their participation in bibliographic networks. Contributors provide insights into both the benefits and the costs of networking by libraries of varying sizes and geographic locations. The actual uses of networks, their costs (including initial and ongoing expenses), and staffing needs are clearly explained.

This book, first published in 1955, deals in detail with history, planning, furnishing, staffing, book stocks, patents and trade marks, administration and methods used to collect and present information to commercial houses and producing firms.