Considers the impact that the computer revolution has had on college and university libraries. Discusses the historical background of changes that resulted from the invention of the printing press; the development of national languages; knowledge acquisition; the historical role of religion; content control of libraries; and changes in students.…

The development of the online database for art and architectural slides at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is described, along with adjustments made to accommodate the use of nonbook materials, descriptive language within an existing MARC-based system, and the integration of the database with the library's online catalog for books. (EAM)

Describes major developments in book approval plans used by academic libraries for acquisition and for information dissemination and document distribution services based on approval-like concepts. Topics addressed include publishers; marketing; the impact of library automation; value-added services; the economic climate; the influence of…

Discusses library user education in terms of content, impact, and limitations. Evaluation studies of library instruction are discussed; future possibilities are examined, including lifelong learning and the impact of change on libraries; and the Gateway to Information, an online user help system developed by the Ohio State University Library, is…

Discussion of electronic texts in the humanities highlights the major electronic editions of Shakespeare's work. Published versus unpublished texts are explained; other electronic texts currently available in English and American literature are described; and the effect of electronic texts on libraries is discussed. (17 references) (LRW)

Reviews the use of computerized monitoring to study the behavior of remote users of online library resources. Highlights include synchronous and asynchronous information transfer; behavioral traits of remote users; challenges to library services; the needs and wants of remote users; academic libraries and distance education; and…

Librarians at Harvard University have written the most comprehensive guide to selecting research collections for digitization. This article applies the Harvard Model to a digitization project at Indiana University in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the model for use at another institution and to adapt the model to local needs. (Contains 7…

Describes the evolution of the library control system at the Ohio State University library from a circulation control system to a full online catalog with subject access and authority control. The needs of users which prompted the development and possible future enhancements are discussed. (CLB)

In this study, 182 Canadian senior administrators, middle managers, and front-line librarians in public and academic libraries were asked to describe the nature of organizational change in their workplaces and how new technology affected the restructuring. Respondents agreed that financial pressure is driving most change and that technology is a…

Eleven articles discuss the response of library users and personnel to automation. Topics covered include computerized reference services, online public access catalogs, paraprofessional staff perceptions of technology, organizational and managerial impacts of automation, workshops on new technology, gender differences in motivation to manage and…

Discussion of the development of undergraduate libraries focuses on Harvard's Lamont Library. Topics include financial issues, including sources of revenue, computerization, and personnel costs; technological changes, including hypermedia and the virtual library; and organizational changes, highlighting the merger of libraries at Cornell…

Describes electronic information resources in religious and theological studies, considers the impact these tools may have on theological librarians, and discusses results of a survey of electronic tools in theological libraries that was conducted to measure the attitudes of theological librarians toward computer-aided biblical research. (35…

Presents budgeting requirements that are needed to meet the electronic library needs in small- and medium-sized academic libraries based on library automation activities at Southern Methodist University (Texas) and a review of the literature. Highlights include cooperative ventures; fund raising; personnel needs; benefits of automation; strategic…

Reviews recent and current research and development projects in the United Kingdom dealing with online information systems. Main areas of research (systems design, impact on user behavior and organizational structure, ergonomics and bibliographic factors) and research techniques (features analysis, transaction log analysis, surveys and comparative…

Over the past 20 years, academic collection development specialists have dealt with changes, brought about by decreasing purchasing power and the growing importance of electronic resources. Throughout, collection managers have rethought their efforts and revised criteria for selection of materials in new formats while maintaining traditional…