ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


4 8 6  / C&RL News ■ July/August 2002

news

In  t h e

Front-line reference librarians, behind-the- 
scenes acquisitions librarians, and library ad­
ministrators alike m ake distinct contributions 
to the life of the library. As providers of a key 
service on  campus, librarians of all types are 
likely be called on at some time to prove them ­
selves. As conscientious librarians, w e more 
often than not also w ant to m easure ourselves 
to make sure that w e are providing the best 
service possible to our communities.

In “Looking for a few good questions: it 
really is process, not product” (p. 492), Celia 
Rabinowitz explores the notion of librarians as 
guides to learning, rather than managers of in­
formation. She suggests that the best gauge of a 
librarian’s success is the degree to which patrons 
learn to solve their own information needs.

W hen Steve Bischof and Tim Klassen de­
cided to improve the accessibility of com puter 
manuals at Wesleyan University, they m oved 
them  out of the reserves and into a browsable, 
circulating collection. In “Com puter manuals

in the academic library collection” on page 506, 
they use informal circulation statistics to speak 
to the success of this decision and to help make 
the argument that these hands-on items de­
serve to be placed for maximum use.

In “Five years ago . . . ” (p. 495) Janet Cottrell 
and Frank Wojcik show  us how  a straightfor­
w ard  co m p ariso n  chart, u se d  to m easure 
changes across the library over a five-year p e ­
riod, works as a successful public relations tool 
for Kenyon College’s Library and Information 
Services. In addition, the chart serves as an 
information source for everything from faculty 
advisory com m ittee m eetings to “Did you 
know. . . ” signs in the library.

Also in this issue is “The library takes the 
lead” (p. 499), which outlines Wichita State 
University’s leadership role and the process 
involved in developing a campus-wide Internet- 
use policy.

—Stephanie Orphan, Editor-in-chief 
sorphan@ala.org

mailto:sorphan@ala.org