Introduces five articles on digital libraries by reviewing related legislation, information networking improvements, efforts to plan a virtual national digital library, and key challenges. The articles are briefly described, and short biographies of the authors are provided. (Contains 10 references.) (KRN)

Discusses the development of the National Research and Education Network (NREN), the emerging National Information Infrastructure, and their implications for libraries. Topics addressed include the growth of commercial accounts in the Internet; the role of government; national legislation; and the expanding role of telephone and cable television…

Reviews the development of bibliographic utilities and the approaches used by the major utilities to deal with issues of record ownership and use. The possible effects of a copyright claim registered by OCLC in 1984 on local library consortia and member libraries of OCLC affiliated networks are discussed. (35 notes/references) (CLB)

Reports results of a content analysis that was conducted to determine the coverage of issues relating to academic libraries in the "Chronicle of Higher Education." Topics discussed include automation; presidential libraries; special collections; copyright; federal legislation; and a bias toward the Washington, D.C., area and toward large…

Describes a proposed National Research and Education Network designed to meet the needs of scholars and researchers, and discusses the technical and political aspects of such a network. The possible impacts on library roles and services are explored, and the need to extend existing networks to include public, school, and rural libraries is…

Describes the federal College Library Technology and Cooperation Grants program designed to assist college and university libraries in acquiring technological equipment and conducting research in information technology. Topics addressed include history, structure/process, reviewers, criteria, and trends. (JLB)

Five articles discuss designing library interiors for ergonomic needs and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Highlights include elements of library furnishings for use with technology; directories of vendors that supply libraries and distributors of technological devices for the blind and physically handicapped; adaptive…

Provides an overview of the American Library Association (ALA) 1991 midwinter conference. Highlights include federal legislation, the organization of library support staff, fees for library services, library collection preservation policies, electronic access, access policy guidelines for academic libraries, reference staffing for electronic…

Excerpts from testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the proposed Technology for Education Act highlights the need for strong school library media collections and programs in addition to the latest technology. Highlights include funding, expenditures, media centers and student achievement, librarians'…