Through the decades, the kinds of materials found in libraries have grown and changed, adapting to the needs of library users as well as economic, social, and even environmental factors. Similarly, the presentation format for cataloging content has changed. Another change is about to emerge in cataloging, and its name is FRBR (Functional…

This article provides a brief history of the development of library subject guides (often referred to as pathfinders) from the late 1800s to the present. During this period, subject guides have changed both their focus and format. The needs of academic institutions at the turn of the 20th century were very different than they are today, and…

Resource description (cataloging or indexing) is undergoing scrutiny with the growth of and access to digital resources. This article describes the evolving means of making documents and document-like objects bibliographically accessible by the library cataloging community. Discusses metadata elements, library cataloging objectives and record…

Social technologies such as Weblogs, wikis, and social bookmarking are emerging both as information resources and as tools for research. This paper reflects on these technologies and suggests they may be well placed to build fluency in the higher-order thinking skills outlined in various information literacy frameworks, particularly in an…

Outlines the processes involved in improving the subject catalog at a medical library. Policy decisions concerning heading sources and revision methodology and plans for analyzing, weeding, and increasing the relevance of subject terms is discussed. The making of catalog changes and the results of catalog revision are also described. (JL)

Reviews several possible methods for individual libraries to use CODOC, a Canadian developed automatic system for processing government documents. Sample costs for one set of options and economic and tangible benefits to the library of the University of Guelph/CODOC system are discussed. Three references and a 17-item bibliography are provided.…

Describes libraries' use of the Internet to provide information on their local collections and explains how to provide searchable indexes through the use of WAIS (Wide Area Information Server) software. Highlights include Waisindex; file formats; Waissearch; and accessing WAIS indexes via a gopher, WAIS, or WWW (World Wide Web) server. (LRW)

In this article, the author explains how librarians can ensure that their Web site visitors find the information they need. The pros and cons of four options used to help people find information on a Web site are explored. These options are: (1) redesigning the site; (2) creating drop-down, second-level menus for second-level pages; (3) adding a…

The Design of Information Systems in the Social Sciences project (DISISS) of the University of Bath, England, has recently completed evaluations of three programs: (1) a library staff digest intended to inform personnel of the inner workings of the library; (2) an information system designed to assist professionals and private individuals working…

Describes efforts to maintain scholarly and scientific collaboration in France during Germany's occupation (1940-44). The Subgroup for Library Protection, established by the Germans, is explained; the exchange of scientific journals between Germany and France is discussed; and two indexing services for scientific literature are described, one…

Presents guidelines for statistics for Web-based information resources developed by the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC). Outlines use elements that must be provided: number of queries, menu selections, sessions, turn-aways, and items examined. Discusses privacy; user, institutional, and consortial confidentiality;…

Presents abstracts of 36 special interest group (SIG) sessions. Highlights include the Chemistry Online Retrieval Experiment; organizing and retrieving images; intelligent information retrieval using natural language processing; interdisciplinarity; libraries as publishers; indexing hypermedia; cognitive aspects of classification; computer-aided…

Interviews with three CEOs--UMI (University Microfilms International), OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), and Gale Research--focus on outlooks for information and libraries. Discusses expanded educational Web services/courseware, library role in delivery, electronic dissertation publishing, digital data conversion, thesauri/indexing, union…