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Focuses on public libraries in Latin America as one important means of information provision at the end of the twentieth century, discussing how they can improve their effectiveness. Defends the view that Latin American countries can use quality management to improve the services they provide through their public libraries. Suggests that, to receive the most benefit from this management theory, public librarians in Latin American countries should be aware of the specific characteristics of their institutions and their clienteles. Analyses the possibilities for implementing quality management in Latin American public libraries, as well as the limitations they may eventually face to fulfil this objective.

Taking the international literature in information sciences as the starting point, discusses the focus group approach and its use in the information services environment. Describes and analyses an experience with this technique in the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Aims to demonstrate its viability for academic libraries in developing countries, arguing that it provides valuable data towards the improvement of quality in the services. Proposes the integration of this technique into library planning.

Reviews the development of public libraries in Brazil, taking a close look at the reasons why such institutions have not developed their collections in a systematic manner. Posits the necessity of organizing collection development activities rationally. Highlights the difficulties public libraries routinely face in Brazil for fulfilling this task. Argues that a better management of public library collections can bring concrete benefits to Brazilian society, as well as help librarians to obtain better support from their clientele and from more senior management.

Discusses quality improvement, focusing on the development of the database DEDALUS, in the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Compares all the activities used in that institution with the management theories of quality. Submits that there is a correlation between them.

Presents the evolution of the scientific and technological information infrastructure in Brazil, considering information as an input in the organization’s chain of values. Discusses the problem of information services for science and technology, as well as the offer and use of technological information in Brazil. Analyses the perspectives for information management in the technological transference process.

Comic books are now becoming a part of public library collections. In Brazil, public libraries are organizing special branches or departments for comic books, calling them Gibitecas. Discusses the reasons for public libraries to collect comic books, and reviews the range of motives that took Brazilian librarians to provide them to their customers. Also analyses the difficulties for collecting and disseminating comic books, with special attention to the characteristics of comic book publishing.

Discusses collection development in academic libraries, using the practices of a Brazilian academic library as an example. Outlines several theoretical models for collection development provided by professional literature and chooses Evans’s model as a tool for the study. Concludes that the model is adequate for use in libraries in developing countries.

Many developing countries are trying to improve their information services to face the world′s changes at the end of this century. Economic blocs, development of new communication technologies and increasing importance of information are only some of the imperatives urging developing countries to reduce the gap between them and the first world. Recent developments in information services in Brazil, the biggest South American country, seem to be occurring in answer to this new environment. Intends to look closely at these developments, analysing how it is happening in Brazilian libraries and information centres. Also reviews education of library professionals in the country.

The term “library management” covers many different aspects of the way that a library is operated and conjures up different concepts in the minds of different people, depending on their own interests, agendas and requirements. Research into the subject is even more difficult to define because the application of research in one field can be vital to the development of another. Some researchers would not consider their research central to library matters at all, whereas the practising librarian might well see it as casting new light on a difficult area of understanding or development.

This paper focuses on the use of ISO 9000 standards for the introduction of quality management in information services, with a special emphasis on the Brazilian experience, aiming to provide support to information services managers in the use of quality management.

The research is based on a comprehensive review of the literature, from the earliest citations to those published more recently, principally articles relating to the application of quality programs in Brazilian information services.

The paper presents and discusses the main benefits (ordered according to the eight principles of quality management), the concerns and the difficulties of the use of ISO 9000 mentioned by the analyzed literature.

Although the literature describes several practical experiences and theoretical studies that analyze the application of ISO 9000 in information services, each organization has its own typical characteristics and their internal and external environments may differ, helping or making it more difficult to implement projects related to quality management.

The paper observes a general predisposition towards the principles defined on the ISO 9000 standard series, which can be used as a parameter to guide and support quality improvement initiatives.

The research supports the idea that ISO 9000 standards are a guideline for the implementation of quality management in organizations of different types and sizes. The exponential growth on the number of ISO 9000 certificates in Brazil has created a scenario that has certainly favoured the option of several information services towards the ISO 9000 standard series.