This paper presents five tools for librarians to use in building effective intercultural communication that reaches out to diverse populations. Librarians can more successfully cross intercultural boundaries if they are aware of the key tenets of intercultural communication and information provision, and then apply the five leadership tools in…

Articles discuss the importance of prison libraries to inmates; describes the operations of a prison library, including the law library section; explains how the library can positively affect life in prison; and discusses an interview with an inmate who has been published. (LRW)

Five articles focus on issues of accountability within the library profession. The topics discussed include the roles of library schools and associations in developing professional attitudes, performance measures for reference services, responsiveness of collection management to university needs, confidentiality of library records, and guidelines…

Provides examples of education programs for school library/media specialists or teacher-librarians in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Caribbean region, and the United Kingdom. Teacher education, basic library science courses, specialized courses in school library media and services, and efforts of International Federation of Library…

Describes and compares the process used for accreditation of postsecondary programs of education for librarianship, and the existing programs and justification for certification of individual librarians. An argument for the advantages of institutional accreditation over individual certification is presented. (13 references) (CLB)

Briefly discusses the impact of "A Nation at Risk" and identifies factors that will bring about successful educational reform, including changes in curriculum, methods of instruction, modes of testing, and teacher preparation and empowerment. A selected bibliography of nine items pertinent to the educational reform movement is provided. (CLB)

Describes two interactive computer programs of juvenile literature that young readers can use to search for books they might enjoy reading. The hardware and software requirements, database features, search strategies, and topics included in the databases are discussed. (13 references) (CLB)

This brief planning guide for library automation incorporates needs assessment and evaluation of options to meet those needs. A bibliography of materials on automation planning and software reviews, library software directories, and library automation journals is included. (CLB)

Reviews the literature that deals with the political ramifications of weeding material from academic library collections and the need to involve users and other libraries within the institution in the decision process. (14 references) (CLB)

Discussion of growing trend toward contracting out government printing to private sector highlights Government Printing Office duties, commercial publications, competition from National Technical Information Service, Ronald Reagan's moratorium on publication, use of microfiche, and implications of changes in government printing and distribution…

Describes and compares three versions of the ERIC database that are available on optical data disks: (1) DIALOG OnDisc ERIC; (2) OCLC Search CD450; and (3) SilverPlatter ERIC. The database contents, software and search commands, hardware requirements, notable features, and costs of each version are discussed. (CLB)

Briefly describes DIALOG OnDisc and gives an example of an actual search of the ERIC database using this system. The screen displays and search commands are used to illustrate the differences between the easy menu search method provided for novice users and the command search method provided for experienced users. (CLB)

This annotated bibliography describes 12 books, 10 ERIC publications, and 7 periodical articles about artificial intelligence and robotics that were selected by the author as resources for educators. (CLB)

Reports on the national demand for higher educational standards evident in the state legislation of the past three or four years that has mandated minimum competency testing programs. States that have adopted various kinds of such legislation are listed. (JD)

Lists and discusses six sources of basic proposal writing skills and five sources of examples of proposals or parts of proposals. (CHC)