Provides an overview of the relationships between service providers and network equipment manufacturers that are attempting to gain control of the information superhighway market. Traditional online services are working to develop partnerships with television networks and publishing companies and will continue to play an important role in the…

Offers suggestions for training people to use the Internet. Topics discussed include levels of training; goals; matching objectives to student interests; the importance of interactive sessions; student log books; conducting student evaluations; follow-up; and the necessity for the instructor to keep current. (four references) (LRW)

Discussion of the factors that should be considered when purchasing or upgrading a microcomputer focuses on the MS-DOS and OS/2 operating systems. Macintosh purchasing decisions are discussed in a sidebar. A glossary is provided. (CLB)

Describes the development and operation of an electronic serial, "The Public-Access Computer Systems Review." Its evolution from the Public-Access Computer Systems Forum--a computer conference on BITNET run by the University of Houston libraries--is explained, and two sidebars describe other conferences and electronic serials available…

Explains how the Usenet network's dissemination model differs from electronic-mail-based discussion groups in terms of how users can choose which information best fits their needs. Various methods of limiting excessive numbers of unwanted messages are explained. (EAM)

Describes Library 2000 at the Georgia Institute of Technology, which provides remote electronic access to a catalog of more then 350,000 books and documents, as well as access to the indexes to four extensive periodical databases. (MES)

Online users leave traces that others can find and use. Provides an overview of where and how users leave traces and what users can do to protect their privacy. Discusses Internet accounts; special files ("signature,""plan,""project,""file,""finger,""whois," and "vacation");…

Discusses advances in CD-ROM technology. Topics addressed include high performance drives; decreases in prices; CD-ROM marketing, including upgrade kits; and how to keep up with current CD-ROM products and technology, including professional journals and electronic sources. (LRW)

Examines The Internet Adapter (TIA), an Internet protocol that allows computers to be directly on the Internet and access graphics over standard telephone lines using high-speed modems. Compares TIA's system requirements, performance, and costs to other Internet connections. Sidebars describe connections other than TIA and how to find information…

Presents a summary of guidelines for the use of electronic mail (e-mail) and examines legal issues and existing law governing electronic communication. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 is discussed, lawsuits involving e-mail are described, and the future of e-mail privacy is considered. (11 references) (LRW)

Describes the experiences of the American Library Association in implementing an Internet gopher to make information more available to members. Topics discussed include an explanation of gopher software; organizational considerations, including organizational values; training to improve staff familiarity with the Internet; preparing documents for…

Discussion of the use of dynamic data resources, such as Internet LISTSERVs or Usenet newsgroups, focuses on an experiment using an automated filtering system with Usenet newsgroups. Highlights include user satisfaction, based on retrieval size, data sources, and user interface and the need for some human mediation. (Contains two references.) (LRW)

Presents the history of the Internet with specific emphasis on Mosaic; discusses hypertext and hypermedia information; and describes software and hardware requirements. Sidebars include information on the National Center for Super Computing Applications (NCSA); World Wide Web browsers for use in Windows, Macintosh, and X-Windows (UNIX); and…

Two articles by librarians attending the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) Conference in Moscow in August 1991 report on the attempted coup in the Soviet Union. The lack of locally available information is discussed, and the use of personal computers to access outside information sources is described. (LRW)

Four commercial World Wide Web browsers are evaluated for features such as handling of WWW protocols and different URLs: FTP, Telnet, Gopher and WAIS, and e-mail and news; bookmark capabilities; navigation features; file management; and security support. (JKP)