Search

The rapidly changing demands of library customers across different fields of librarianship mirrors that of general society. Are the qualities deemed important for these jobs five or ten years ago still deemed important today? Are these administrators and employees satisfied working in a field that requires such constant change and growth? Our study seeks to address these questions by providing further insight into what qualities library leaders look for in today's library employees while also providing insight into what qualities library employees look for in today's library leaders for a 360 degree view. Using a research study crosswalk, interview and survey questions were developed to ensure internal and construct validity and close alignment. The study's total sample was 289 participants, which included interviews and an online survey completed by public, academic, school, and special libraries in North Carolina and a large public library system in Arizona. The authors found the following: 1) leaders are associated with creating vision, motivating staff, and driving an organization forward, 2) managers are associated with following operational procedures, being task-focused, and being approachable to staff, and 3) excellent library employees show initiative, are self-motivated, are passionate about the work, and demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the Symposium on Area Studies Librarianship held at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona on July 14-16, 2006. It was opened by keynote speaker Atifa Rawan with a presentation of her efforts to re-build the academic libraries of Afghanistan. A broad range of topics have been presented via three multicultural panels over the next two days. The second lineup of panel speakers include John Munoz, Michael Brewer and Ping Situ. A variety of topics were discussed at the lectures: collection management, copyright restrictions, publishing requirements, advances in electronic resources. One of the common themes throughout the presentations was the shortage of librarians entering the field of area studies.

A University of Arizona (UA) alumni couple, including a 2002 graduate of the School of Information Resources and Library Science (SIRLS), have announced a gift commitment of $1.5 million to SIRLS, which will bolster a school that recently survived threat of elimination or merger. The funds provided by Duane and Linda Whitaker will create three endowed professorships for people" at the top" of the LIS field, said SIRLS Director Brooke Sheldon. Sheldon also said that the Knowledge River program, which focuses on training Hispanics and Native Americans for the library profession, has received several gifts. The Trejo Foundation has donated money to Knowledge River for endowed scholarships in memory of Arnulfo Trejo, an eminent professor at the school. The University of Arizona Library and the Tucson-Pima Public Library have created partnerships with SIRLS to fund internships for Knowledge River students.

Reports on developments related to library science in the United States as of May 1977. Tucson Public Library in Arizona's completion of its annual audio-video report; Statewide film competition hosted by the Grand Rapids Public Library in Michigan; Media workshop from the New Jersey School Media Association and the New Jersey Association for Educational Communications and Technology.

Provides information about Knowledge River (KR), an initiative in library and information studies at the School of Information Resources and Library Science of the University of Arizona in Tucson. Features of the KR program created and directed by Patricia A. Tarin which offer students of color a way to look at any aspect of information or librarianship from the perspectives of Native Americans and Latinos; Interdisciplinary courses developed for KR and taught by Native Americans or Latino instructors; Benefits of the program for its students.

This article highlights "Living the Future 5: Strategically Striving and Surviving" conference which will be held on April 14 to 17, 2004 at Tucson, Arizona. The conference will tackle issues regarding transformational library organizational changes, teams, process improvement, strategic planning, and the changing roles of library staff. It is jointly sponsored by the University of Arizona, Association of College & Research Libraries and the Association of Research Libraries.

Offers briefs relating to library science for January 1999. New York City librarians suing the local municipal union for alleged embezzlement and vote fraud; Why University of Arizona biologist Michael Rosenzweig is publishing the journal `Evolutionary Ecology Research'; The National Archives to cut 820 hours from former United States President Richard Nixon's White House tapes; Recommendation of library users in Dallas, Texas for the elimination of fines; More.

Focuses on announcements made by the Online Computer Library Center Inc. (OCLC) regarding its services available to automated libraries. Availability of the Book Database via OCLC's online reference system EPIC; Search CD450, a compact disc series for use on a local area network configuration; Guidelines which OCLC has developed for recording preservation data in the cataloging or union list sub-systems of its online union catalog (OLUC); Subscription of the Tucson Public Library in Arizona to OCLC's EPIC service.

Reports on the closure of the Arizona Inter library Loan Center. Reason for the closure; Implication of the center's closure on the area's library system.

The article highlights "Living the Future 6: WOW—Where Next?" conference for collaborative thinking about the future in Tucson, Arizona on April 5-8, 2006. Participants from all library types are welcome to this event. Discussions will center on collaborations, leadership in a time of increasing economic change, and challenges at the University of Arizona Library and other libraries in the U.S. And the conference combines excellent weather, a low cost venue, and a group of lively participants.

Reports on the 144th Membership Meeting of the Association of Research Libraries aimed at considering systematic change in research institutions in Tucson, Arizona. Updates on an initiative for the retrospective digitization of U.S. Government document collections; Discussion of a research study on the status of book publication; Presentation of ideas for successful local programming.

Announces that the University of Arizona Graduate Library School will present a new library science program via video. Idea of equal access in education; Tuition; Description of the classes.

Reports that the Library Technical Services (LTS) department of the Tucson Unified School District processed its one-millionth book in Tucson, Arizona, in December 1979. Background information on the LTS department; Interest in technical services in the library sector; Reasons for the creation of the LTS department.

Presents answers to questions on the topics of serials and CD-ROMS, patron privacy and "No Smoking" policies in libraries. Coordination of ERIC or Wilsondisc with search hits that are actually in the library serial holdings so that those hits are flagged, such as a new program called MATCH'EM; Patron privacy rules and laws at Phoenix College; New "Smoking/Clean Indoor Air Policy" adopted by the Akron-Summit County (Ohio) Public Library which will prohibit smoking and the carrying of lighted smoking materials in all ASCPL facilities and vehicles beginning in March 1989.

The author comments on developments in the U.S. library profession. He argues that he is more at home with issues related to traditional librarianship than he is with the current professional problems. He describes the conditions that defined the nature of the job of librarians of his generation during the 1950s and 1960s wherein they were drawn to the process of bringing books and people together. He describes an incident at the basement of the main library of the Arizona State University.

Presents news briefs related to libraries. Launch by the University of Arizona's Graduate Library School of a satellite-relayed course of instruction in school librarianship; Donation by the Polish National Alliance of the 45,000-items of Polish-interest materials in the disbanded Alliance College Library to the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Library; Donation by Barbara and Leonard S. Goodman of their collection of more than 230 fine editions of Latin works printed between 1477 and the early 1700s to Pennsylvania State University; Other news.

Recounts the establishment of a library in Bisbee, Arizona, by the Copper Queen Mining Co. in 1885. Civilizing influence of the library on Bisbee; Key features of the Copper Queen Library in the 1970s; Policy implications on libraries and library science.