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In an increasing mobile environment, library and reading-related activities often take place on a phone or tablet device. Not only does this mean that library Web sites must keep mobile navigability in mind, but also develop and utilize apps that allow patrons to interact with information and with libraries. While apps do not serve every purpose, and sometimes a simply designed mobile Web site is a better choice, this author says she finds herself turning to apps on a regular basis. The apps discussed in this article (Goodreads, Dropbox, Wikipedia/Wikipanion, IMDB, EasyBib, WorldCat Mobile, e-readers, Pocket, Evernote, and Scan2PDF Moble,) are free and should work on Apple, Google, and PC platforms that support app use. These apps can be found through an app store specific to each device. As with all apps and online networks, one should be aware of security risks due to both viruses and hacking. Because many of these apps interact with each other and with sites on the Internet, even though they are vetted sites, users should be wary and use secure and frequently changed passwords in order to decrease vulnerability to malicious interference.

It's been well documented in a number of articles regarding the contemporary library patron that with the rise in mobile computing and smart phone technology, patrons are looking for fast and easy service from whichever technological avenue they are using to access library services. Libraries are responding with increasing numbers of online resources and online means of assistance. One means of communication that is seeing more widespread use in libraries is the use of instant messaging. Many reference desks, and more and more circulation desks, are using instant messaging as a means of communication regarding a number of different library services. In this article, the author describes the steps in setting up instant messaging and SMS (text) communications for the circulation desk. (Contains 19 figures.)

Founded in 1887 as the Croatan Normal School, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) is a smaller branch of the UNC System (with an full-time enrollment of about 6,500), yet with awarded diversity and a historical dedication to individualized service. Its dedication to services drives its approach to course reserves, which is to encourage its usage as much as possible as a way to save faculty member time and ease student access to needed materials. In working to accomplish this goal, it has sought a course reserves system that facilitates services, as well as takes into account its individual staffing needs at the library. This article provides a comparison of the pros and cons of three different reserves systems--Innovative's Millennium software, Docutek's ERes, and Atlas Systems Ares--as implemented at the UNCP.

With less staff time and more things to do, providing consistent and thorough training is sometimes a challenge. In order to streamline training and provide for more effective communication among staff and student assistants, a Blackboard course was created to provide a graded, self-paced, and interactive training tutorial. The tutorials were compiled using Powerpoint, Camtasia, and Snag-It, as well as Blackboard's internal test system.

Many libraries have disaster recovery plans, but not all have prevention and action plans to prepare for an emergency in advance. This article presents the author's review of the prevention and action plans of several libraries: (1) Evergreen State College; (2) Interlochen Public Library; (3) University of Maryland, Baltimore-Marshall Law Library; (4) University of North Carolina Wilmington Randall Library; (5) Vanderbilt Central Library; (6) Bay County Library System; (7) Wayne State Universities Library; (8) Central University Libraries-Fondren Library Center; and (9) University of Southampton.

This article presents an interview with Karen Glover of Georgia Tech, a key person behind the planning of the Access Services Conference held last fall, and now going into its second year. Glover started working in libraries as a part-time library assistant at her local public library during her high school years. She later became a Circulation Clerk and then was promoted to Circulation Supervisor in the same public library system. She obtained her MLIS from Florida State University. She is now the Circulation Services Librarian, Assistant Department Head at Georgia Institute of Technology Library and Information Center. Her job, like many of those serving in Access Services, involves staff supervision, student assistant management, and developing and updating policies and procedures. In this interview, Glover discusses her job and the first annual Access Services Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

One of the challenges of access services is letting patrons know what one has to offer at his or her library, and then communicating how they may avail themselves of those services. Increasingly, libraries are doing this through more than the traditional handouts and newsletters, but also through blogs, Facebook pages, podcasts, and videos. This author, as she was preparing to develop a series of instructional videos (one set for training library assistants, and another set for informing patrons about library services) reviewed the available existing videos. She discusses the different categories of library videos and describes some online library videos that she hopes will spark some ideas and get one's creative juices flowing toward planning his or her own library video and bringing the age of multimedia to access services in the library.

Encompassing a wide range of responsibilities, Access Services means many different things to many different people, with global variations in what it means to the end user. However, for almost all it means facilitating access to the wealth of information at their library. This particular interview is an attempt to shed light on how the current economic climate is impacting access to information. Instead of interviewing a single individual, the author distributed a short survey to the CIRCPLUS discussion list asking how Access Services has been affected by the economic hardships that have increased over the past year, compounding many existing economic problems. The author received over 100 responses to the survey, which she details in this article, including comments from the individuals surveyed that demonstrate just how they have been affected by economic difficulties. (Contains 2 figures.)

In 2004, Sampson-Livermore Library at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, began circulating laptops to its patrons. After a small pilot project, full-scale implementation occurred and the service proved to be very popular. Policies and procedures were adjusted at several steps along the way to accommodate lessons learned from the circulation desk. Sampson-Livermore Library now circulates laptops, iBooks, portable DVD players, and MP3 players, in addition to peripheral equipment. Circulation of library equipment has skyrocketed, as this has become one of the library's signature services.

The article offers information how to deal with problem patrons. According to the article, problem patrons must be diffused to assure safety for those in the library and their ability in using the library resources. In this case, several web sites are provided that discuss on problem patrons and can give direction in handling problematic situations. The web site http://mercury.southern.cc.oh.us/Home/bedwards/introduction.html has a list of crisis prevention tips to diffuse a possible heated situation before it become problematic. The web site www.georgialibraries.org/lib/training/ppt/problems.ppt provides presentation about problem patrons. Moreover, the web site http://slis.cua.edu/sjp/553-probpats.htm takes a positive and succinct approach in dealing library's problematic situations.

An interview with Hayden Battle, Assistant Head of Access Services and Head of Interlibrary Loan and Reserves at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, is presented. When asked on the impact of Hurricane Katrina to his library and Access Services, he said that it flooded their basement area and it greatly affected the Access Services. In additional, Battle said that in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there was loss of staff positions and one position in the Access Services.

The article presents an interview with Kimberly Burke Sweetman, Head of the Access Services Department at New York University's Bobst Library, New York City. She says that she wants to create more of a service culture in her department. According to her, the best thing about working with students is watching them grow as young adults. She states that her book "Managing Student Assistants: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians" provides information on managing students in any type of library.

The article reviews several web sites related to copyright law including http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/copyrightb/copyright.htm, from the American Library Association, http://www.arl.org/info/frn/copy/copytoc.html, from the Association of Research Libraries and http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/cip/cip.html, from University of Maryland University College.