An online service uses a desktop computer, equipped with a modem, to obtain a variety of services in electronic form such as electronic mail, electronic bulletin boards, special interest forums, and databases. Describes the features and costs of six commercial online services and how some school board members are using them. (MLF)

This paper reports on an application of parallel models to the area of information retrieval and argues that massively parallel, distributed models of computation, called connectionist, or parallel distributed processing (PDP) models, offer a new approach to the representation and manipulation of knowledge. Although this document focuses on…

To help determine the future of the Bibliographic Service Development Program (BSDP), the Council on Library Resources (CLR) sponsored a conference to examine bibliographic services for library users with emphasis on their needs. The 32 participants included invited speakers, research library administrators, foundation officers, network and…

Reviews the growth of library networks and bibliographic utilities, and describes the concept of a national bibliographic network. The impact of microcomputers, the increased computer literacy of librarians, preferences for local autonomy, and the availability of commercial online services on the desire for a national system are discussed. (CLB)

Describes a number of initiatives by the U.S. national security community that might restrict or monitor public access to sensitive but unclassified information. The current status of the initiatives, and their possible impact on freedom of information in a democratic society are discussed. (27 references) (Author/CLB)

Telidon, which consists of two computerized communications systems for displaying text and graphics on a television screen under user control, is being field tested in the libraries of two York Region Board of Education (YRBE) schools in Aurora, Ontario. Beginning in spring 1983, students were able to access, via telephone, a computerized data…

Mail surveys designed to determine the current status of end user online searching were sent to three populations: 473 faculty members in 12 departments at 20 universities, online search coordinators in 89 academic libraries, and 15 library school educators. Direct interviews with 10 university faculty members were also conducted. Faculty were…

This report presents a conceptual framework for developing a multitype resource sharing library network utilizing automated technologies in Massachusetts. Sections describe the need for a resource sharing network plan; past planning efforts; current library automation and cooperative activities; goals and objectives related to meeting the…

This report presents consultants' recommendations for the statewide collection and entry in the OCLC database of bibliographic data on New York state newspapers as part of a national United States newspaper cataloging project. The consulting team was asked to focus principally on two activities: first, the newspaper collection of the New York…

Despite technological development allowing fast identification of specific citations and information sources, there is still a significant time lag in obtaining documents not available in a given university library system. In an effort to improve the speed and to identify cost effective means of obtaining documents through interlibrary loan, this…

The characteristics of paper or microform library materials, electronic publications, and online databases are compared in terms of equipment needs, cost effectiveness, budgeting, and satisfaction of users' needs. Suggestions for the effective integration of these materials are offered. (13 references) (CLB)

An open forum was held to let concerned parties comment on the report, "Provision of Federal Government Publications in Electronic Format to Depository Libraries," and to solicit suggestions for possible pilot projects that could test the feasibility of the proposal. More than 150 agency representatives, congressional staffers,…

Describes a study undertaken by San Jose State University of business-related ready reference searches done at that library. The results suggest that within certain restrictions of patron questions, librarian training, search cost, and the database, ready reference online searches can be the most cost effective approach to providing business…

A revised and updated version of a 1983 automation plan, this report describes the long range program for resource sharing activities by the library network in Massachusetts, a program which is funded in part by the Library Services and Construction Act. The basis of the network--the development, continuation, and linking of machine-readable…

This paper describes the development of a proposed Japanese Science Information System (SIS), a nationwide network of research and academic libraries, large-scale computer centers, national research institutes, and other organizations, to be formed for the purpose of sharing information and resources in the natural sciences, technology, the…