To investigate the experience of American and Canadian university libraries with remote access catalogs, self-administered questionnaires were sent to the 137 directors of all Association of Research Libraries (ARL) libraries and all libraries of Canadian degree-granting institutions. The study was designed to: (1) survey Canadian and U.S.…

This directory is intended to serve as an information resource for libraries that may be contemplating card catalog closing by providing a list of 607 U.S. and Canadian libraries that have closed their old card catalog files. The report includes reference information for 286 academic libraries, 235 public libraries, 11 school libraries, and 75…

Presents results of a survey of ARL (Association of Research Libraries) members in the United States and Canada that was conducted to discover which electronic reference options are offered and their impact on library services. Online mediated searching, CD-ROM, end-user searching, and local databases are investigated. (nine references) (LRW)

This book presents examples of how libraries are using XML (eXtensible Markup Language) to solve problems, expand services, and improve systems. Part I contains papers on using XML in library catalog records: "Updating MARC Records with XMLMARC" (Kevin S. Clarke, Stanford University) and "Searching and Retrieving XML Records via the…

Introducing cataloging students, beginning catalogers, copy catalogers, and department administrators to the principles of cataloging, classification, and indexing, this revised text provides a simple, solid foundation for standard practices of cataloging and bibliographic control in the United States and Canada. The book reviews major…

Presents overview of library uses of automation, noting the earliest example of a "black box" in 1588, the "indicator" invented in England in 1863, various forms of card catalogs, and computer solutions posed by Vannevar Bush, J. C. R. Licklider, Project Intrex, and John G. Kemeny. Ten references are cited. (EJS)

This collection of 23 articles compiled from school library journals address the special needs that make automation problematic for school libraries. The articles are divided into five sections: an overview of OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) development (4 titles); evaluating OPAC systems (4 titles); implementing OPAC systems (6 titles);…

Examines the catalogs of 19 urban public library systems, 10 American and nine Canadian, to determine the extent of their holdings of 99 gay-related fiction titles in English for young adults. Data are tabulated by title, and a list of the titles surveyed is appended. (Author/LRW)

Five articles discuss information technology in libraries: (1) "Software for Libraries" (Katharine Phenix); (2) "Online Update: European Online Services" (Martin Kesselman); (3) "Connect Time: Online Pricing Breakthroughs" (Barbara Quint); (4) "Microcomputing: Micro Biology Computer Viruses" (James LaRue);…

This proceedings includes the following papers presented at the 16th International Essen Symposium: "Electronic Resource Sharing: It May Seem Obvious, But It's Not as Simple as it Looks" (Herbert S. White); "Resource Sharing through OCLC: A Comprehensive Approach" (Janet Mitchell); "The Business Information Network:…

Discusses the history of American and British experiences with library automation and contrasts them with recent developments in central and eastern Europe. Highlights include efficiency of internal operations, including cataloging data; access to internal and external library resources, including online catalogs and document delivery; and…

Discusses problems with Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) not keeping current, particularly with ethnic and racial headings. A historical review of changes over the past 20 years is provided, including various studies of LCSH; Canadian adaptations are described; and making subject heading changes in online catalogs is discussed.…

This description of the functional characteristics of 20 online public catalogs in libraries in the United States notes their origin and scope, search methods, access points, search commands, record displays, user assistance, database and technical characteristics, and costs. Six references and illustrative material are provided. (EJS)

This paper discusses two efforts that offer solution paths to interoperability of the Z39.50 standard protocol for information retrieval. The first section provides background on interoperability and Z39.50, identifying the categories of syntactic protocol interoperability, functional protocol interoperability, and semantic interoperability. The…

In an attempt to clarify the indexing and announcing controls for government documents, this issue of the Drexel Library Quarterly presents background information on several of the information controlling and access agencies, describes their operations, and points out their inherent problems and weaknesses. The agencies covered are the Government…