Purpose: To describe the development of the library management system, e-Granthalaya, for public libraries in India. This is an initiative of the Indian government's National Informatics Centre (NIC). The paper outlines the challenges and the potential of a full-scale deployment of this software at a national level. Design/methodology/approach:…

Discussion of the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) focuses on a longitudinal study conducted in Central and Eastern Europe that investigated two issues: (1) the relationship between computing networks and library automation in establishing a national information infrastructure, and (2) requirements for library automation for exchanging…

Describes a transaction log analysis of the New York Public Library research libraries' OPAC (online public access catalog). Much of the remote searching occurred when the libraries were closed and was more evenly distributed than internal searching, demonstrating that remote searching could expand access and reduce peak system loads. (Contains…

Describes the layered model of Open Systems Interconnection (OSI); summarizes the three upper and lower layers; and discusses data communications standards associated with specific layers. Architectural concepts are explored, including hierarchy and abstraction, levels of dialogue, internetworking, and end-to-end communication. OSI is compared…

The first part of the annual automation marketplace survey examines minicomputer systems in libraries. Highlights include vendor consolidation and acquisitions; system interconnection; networked databases; products related to the Americans with Disabilities Act; multimedia; vendor installations worldwide; academic versus public library…

This report analyzes data gathered from 29 automated library system vendors who responded to a 1996 survey. The survey also requested their perceptions of Java (an object-oriented programming language) and network computers, and issues and trends to be considered by library administrators. Contact information about the vendors is provided. (Four…

Discussion of how scholars work and how they use information focuses on a case study of the use of new electronic resources by humanist scholars. Interviews with humanists at the University of Pennsylvania about their experiences with the RLIN (Research Libraries Information Network) database are discussed, including content, connectivity, user…

This paper reports on a study conducted to collect the data pertaining to corporate libraries in the United States in order to provide a statistical profile of these special libraries. A review of the literature was performed. The researcher used the online "1996 Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers," which lists 21,380…

Reports on a survey of 70 research libraries in Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Results show that libraries are rapidly acquiring automated processing systems, CD-ROM databases, and connections to computer networks. Discusses specific data on system implementation and network services by country and by type of…

Reports the results of three statewide studies in Alaska, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, which show that a school library media program with a full-time library media specialist, support staff, and a strong computer network leads to higher student achievement as evidenced on standardized achievement tests. (LRW)

This System and Procedures Exchange Center (SPEC) flyer/kit is based on two research efforts: a 1986 SPEC survey on the collection and use of management statistics related to reference services, and a 1987 supplemental survey on qualitative measures of reference services. A brief introduction describes the survey and discusses the evaluation of…

Discusses uses of computer-based telecommunications and telefacsimile by school library media programs to provide information for management and services to users. A case study of telecommunications in Oklahoma that focuses on the application of technology for cooperative selection is presented, future possibilities are discussed, and an annotated…

The availability of serials through databases has provided libraries with a new format for acquiring information. The extent to which the growth in electronic databases can help the librarian control costs while meeting the demand of accrediting agencies was studied through an exploratory survey of the 48 specialized accrediting agencies of the…

The first of two phases of this study consisted of assessing the need for a more formal library network in Virginia by surveying libraries, conducting site visits, interviews, and regional hearings, and reviewing documentation on existing levels of automation and networking in the commonwealth. Information gathered during this phase supported both…

This SPEC (Systems and Procedures Exchange Center) Kit presents the results of a survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member libraries designed to investigate the changes in research library systems operations since 1994 and to identify future trends. A total of 70 of 124 ARL member libraries responded to the survey. A copy of the…