Advances In Librarianship, Volume 29 (advances In Librarianship)

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Critically acclaimed since its inception, "Advances in Librarianship" continues to be the essential reference source for developments in the field of libraries and library science. Articles published in the serial have won national prizes, such as the Blackwell North America Scholarship Award for the outstanding 1994 monograph, article, or original paper in the field of acquisitions, collection, development, and related areas of resource development. All areas of public, college, university, primary and secondary schools, and special libraries are given up-to-date, critical analysis by experts engaged in the practice of librarianship, in teaching, and in research.

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Editorial Advisory Board Eileen Abels, University of Maryland at College Park Nancy H. Allen, Denver University Danuta Nitecki, Associate University Librarian, Yale University Mary Jean Pavelsek, New York University Nancy Roderer, Johns Hopkins Univeristy Robert A. Seal, Texas Christian University Contents Contributors Preface xi ix Understanding Information‐Seeking: The Public Library Context 1 Gloria J. Leckie and Lisa M. Given I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Introduction 1 Information-Seeking, The Public and Library Collections 7 Information-Seeking and Reference Services 20 The Information-Seeking of Particular Populations 36 Information-Seeking, Instruction, Training, and Searching 39 Information-Seeking and The Physical Environment 53 Conclusion: Information-Seeking and Models of the Public Library 60 References 62 Providing Library Services for Urban Children: Challenges and Strategies 73 Sheri Anita Massey, Ann Carlson Weeks, and Teresa Y. Neely I. II. III. IV. Introduction 73 Challenges Facing Urban Children 76 Examples of Successful Strategies and Initiatives Conclusion 89 References 92 77 v vi Contents Three Decades of Challenges and Changes in US Embassy Libraries Around the World 99 Wendy A. Simmons I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. Introduction 99 Libraries in the State Department 101 Early History 103 The Recent Past 106 Contemporary Conditions 108 International Information Programs 109 Conclusions 130 References 130 ‘‘Going Where the Users are: We’ll Get There Only If We Want to’’ 133 Diane Kresh I. Introduction 133 II. Literature Review 134 III. Success in Virtual Reference Depends on Libraries Working Together 135 IV. The Burgeoning Information Service Industry 138 V. Virtual Reference is no DiVerent from Traditional Reference 139 VI. Who Uses Virtual Reference and Why? 141 VII. Library Services are in a Period of Transition 142 VIII. Community Building in Reference Service 144 IX. Reinventing Libraries 146 X. Conclusions 154 References 155 Building Networks, Building Trust: Statewide Virtual Reference 159 Buff Hirko I. Introduction 159 II. Project Activities and Results 162 III. The Washington VR Summit: Celebrating and Sustaining Success 183 IV. Conclusions 186 vii Contents The Changing Role of the Info‐Entrepreneur 187 Mary Ellen Bates I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. Introduction 187 Overview of the Info-Entrepreneur Profession 188 Examples of Info-Entrepreneur Projects 191 Types of Info-Entrepreneurs: Niches, Generalists, Technique-Specialists 194 Would You be a Successful Info-Entrepreneur? 202 Ten Mistakes New Info-Entrepreneurs Make 204 Addressing Pricing Issues: ‘You’re Charging Me What?!?’ 207 Marketing Challenges for Info-Entrepreneurs 209 Surfacing Your Value: Providing Value-Added Deliverables 213 Where the Info-Entrepreneur Profession is Headed 216 Key Resources for Info-Entrepreneurs 217 References 222 Understanding the Picture User 223 Henry Pisci