This brief planning guide for library automation incorporates needs assessment and evaluation of options to meet those needs. A bibliography of materials on automation planning and software reviews, library software directories, and library automation journals is included. (CLB)

Defines criteria applicable to implementation of end-user online searching service in academic education library (ease of use, flexibility, administrative ease, security, compatibility with available equipment) and describes systems in four categories--software (front ends, downloaded subsets), gateways, user friendly vendors, and straight vendor…