Since 1999, the idea of a library portal service, called “MyLibrary,” has been well discussed and conceptualized. The service is an integrated approach to build library online service components into one user interface, which can be personalized and customizable based on users' preferences...

This chapter reviews published studies of the use of pictorial information. Examining image user studies surfaces several research questions often addressed by this body of work, as well as some frequently encountered problems. These questions and problems organize this survey of the literature....

One of the very first information entrepreneur businesses was Information Unlimited, founded by Sue Rugge and Georgia Finnigan back in 1971. Charging $10/hour for their research, Sue and Georgia essentially created a new industry, offering on-demand research provided by skilled librarians and...

A significant amount of experimentation in virtual collection building and public service has been underway for the past few years. The time has now come to stop experimenting and commit instead to building collaborative, scalable and sustainable programs to meet patrons at their point of need....

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 25.7% of individuals residing in the United States were under the age of 18 in the year 2003 ( U.S. Census Bureau, 2004a ). Within that group 17.6%, about 12 million children, were living in poverty ( U.S. Census Bureau, 2004b ). Of the children classified as...

Libraries and librarians have long been early adopters of information technologies. For decades, librarians have applied computerization to library operations. Standardization and computerization of bibliographic records decades ago made possible automation of library systems, the creation and...

Libraries are social agencies. They exist to serve certain specific needs in our society. Changes in the environment in which libraries operate—in the technological infrastructure through which we deliver services, in the economic substrate that finances operations, in the social landscape...