Summarizes the Library of Congress' Network Advisory Committee's stance on library networking and shared library resources. (CLB)

Identifies five institutional forms of library consortia, one of which is local consortia or proximal networks, and discusses issues that apply to local library consortia. Highlights include redefinition of the library role, appropriate technology, bibliographic control, direct access, governance, and financing. (10 references) (CLB)

Reviews the literature on library network governance with particular attention to the role of lay trustees, and describes the composition of 12 multistate library network boards. A model for the selection of lay trustees that is based on needed outside expertise is presented. (23 references) (CLB)

In comparing methods of allocating service transaction costs among member libraries of interlibrary systems, questions of how costs are to be estimated, and what cost elements are to be included are critical. Different approaches of estimation yield varying results. Actual distribution of units accounts for greatest variance in allocations. (CDD)

Presents an example of a pricing policy for any interlibrary courier service which (1) calculates fixed, travelling, and stopping costs; (2) charges by how often the courier stops at each participating library; and (3) uses any subsidies for costs libraries cannot control. (CDD)

Summarizes the responses of research library directors to the Library of Congress' Network Advisory Committee statement, which stresses an egalitarian network environment. The special role of research libraries and the effect on their participation in local area and multitype networks are discussed. (6 references) (CLB)

Reviews the history of the relationship between OCLC and the regional networks, and examines current stresses in this relationship. Strategies that might be used to preserve this partnership are suggested. (1 reference) (Author/CLB)

Describes the development of library and bibliographic information networks, differences between the functions of archives and libraries, and the challenge to create information networks which encompass both library and archival materials. (CLB)

Traces the development of library networking over the last 20 years, and examines the current attitude toward an integrated national network. The political and economic problems of the Linked Systems Project are discussed, as well as issues relating to copyright. (10 references) (Author/CLB)

Discussion of library networking issues that may be relevant to Japanese and U.S. libraries as they increase their use of central databases and local systems includes the role of the traditional library, distributed systems, linked systems, and the emergence of commercial systems. (Author/CLB)

Explores the impact of networks and shared library resources on the library planning process. Environmental scanning techniques, the need for cooperative planning, and the formulation of strategies to achieve networking goals are discussed. (CLB)

Reviews the role of library networks in improved access to resources, increased productivity, and cost effectiveness. The impact of electronic information on these functions is discussed, and strategies for effectively networking electronic information are presented. (1 reference) (CLB)

Defines the basis of successful networking as the provision of financial relief and functional benefit. The services provided by OCLC, regional networks, and local area networks are examined using these criteria, and a scenario of an ideal network is presented. (10 references) (CLB)