Few academic librarians ten or fifteen years ago would have believed that those days of flat-lined budgets and miniscule raises could ever seem a golden (or at least silver) age by comparison. It turns out that there is something even worse than uncertainty, however--the absolute certainty of budgetary constriction and unwise decisions.…

The job of the contemporary reference librarian has a virtual component unimaginable a generation ago. Today's library professional can obtain an MLS (or equivalent) online with a minimal residency requirement. Not only the degree, but also library sources, and indeed patrons, have become virtual. Both books and periodicals can be consulted by…

The ubiquity of video games in today's society presents unique challenges and opportunities for librarians and faculty. A significant subset of video games use historical periods as a setting, some with greater adherence to history than others. Many students are playing these games and bringing preconceived ideas of the historical period to the…

This paper looks at the library's ability to spread environmental conservation efforts throughout the community. The paper suggests various ways library staff can explore environmentally friendly procedures within the context of the media center as well as ways to promote community interest and support. It identifies areas for improvement, ideas…

Librarians face a dilemma, one to which most of them appear to be oblivious. Everybody knows about lots of modern problems that confront libraries and librarians these days. The problem under discussion here is of another order altogether: that librarians are taken too seriously by some of the populace they serve; that they sometimes do not take…

This article will discuss the renovation and redesign project that took place at Gadsden State Community College's Austin R. Meadows Library. The process will be explained along with lessons learned and things to avoid. In addition, a cost breakdown will be provided. (Contains 2 tables.)

The controversy involving the challenge and possible banning of books has existed since the first person set pen to paper. These challenges have historically been based upon political and religious differences, but as time has passed, have become increasingly more to do with sex, race and culture. With these issues facing libraries, the role of…

This paper describes efforts by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the State Academic Senate for California Community Colleges to implement a state-mandated information literacy graduation requirement. Starting in 1996, there were comprehensive studies and state-wide hearings, leading up to an expected implementation…

One hundred fourteen community college libraries in the United States and Canada are surveyed for the organization of electronic resources within their home page and their cataloguing practice. The majority provide access to databases, ready reference, and their own catalogue both on their home page and within their web site. They do not usually…

Information literacy initiatives on community college campuses are key to a student's academic success. Information literate students who can identify, evaluate, and use information are better able to compete in the professional world. Community college libraries who communicate and collaborate with faculty forge key relationships that benefit all…

The Central Piedmont Community College Libraries moved from a separately maintained periodicals holdings list to a fully-integrated serials module. Establishing the serials module from scratch required the library to make a series of interrelated decisions beyond the realm of serials management and control. The implications of the serials module…

In this article, the author talks about e-zines, also identified as ezines. E-zines are online resources most commonly referred to as magazines or "zines" (print-world lingo for do-it-yourself publications) for short. Even though delivered over the Web, they are considered publications with small circulation and are primarily delivered over the…

In 1998, Hagerstown Junior College, was renamed Hagerstown Community College and opened a new Learning Resource Center (LRC),which now holds the college library. The article details some of the administrative decisions that guide the services of the library and some of their plans for the future. Contains three photos: (1) LRC entrance; (2) LRC…

Discusses the St. Philip's College (SPC) Learning Resource Center laptop loaning program. States that SPC is a Historically Black College and Hispanic Serving Institution that is now rewarding honors students by lending them laptops for a semester at a time. Discusses the development of the loaning program. Provides a list of Web sites for anyone…

This annotated filmography includes titles selected for entertainment value, availability, and either the employment of a major character by a library, or at least one scene involving a major character in a library setting that is critical to the forward movement of the plot. (Contains 1 endnote.)