Describes the Basic Health Sciences Library Network (BHSL), a multistate interlibrary loan network that operates without direct charges to its 460 member libraries or federal or state funding. Loan activity for 1992 resulted in collective savings of $592,672. The BHSL model can be applied to any group using a common locator tool. (Contains 17…

Describes the benefits and drawbacks of the use of OCLC in the one-person library at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. Cataloging functions, interlibrary loan, retrospective catalog conversion, dial access to online databases, and training problems are discussed. (JL)

The State University at Buffalo Science and Engineering Library's experience attests to the value of regional hierarchical borrowing patterns in keeping turnaround time to a minimum and distributing the loan burden equitably. (Author)

Seven conditions necessary for a network are comparability, coordination, centrality, collegiality, compatibility, consortia and compensation. (9 references) (Author/AB)

Describes the institute library's social science collections, periodicals, user services (bibliographic, photocopy, press library, documentation, and translation) and offers recommendations for improvements in library service, collection development, and future programs. Objectives of the institute and role of foreign policy are noted. Eleven…

Examines the impact of electronic communications systems on library networking, using such examples as interlibrary loans and union catalogs to illustrate the effects of telecommunications on library services. The need for strict adherence to library standards in order to ensure continued library cooperation is discussed. (CLB)

This paper, a lecture to library school students, presents in detail four elements that make a special library special," as background for a discussion of suggested approaches to follow in managing a special library. (Author/AB)

A brief visit to several Japanese medical libraries and information centers revealed similarities and dissimilarities with their United States counterparts. All the institutions had indexes, many English language journals, and photocopying requests. Differences appeared in the reference services provided. The information centers were computer…

Discusses the general benefits of library networking in terms of selection, acquisition, organization, storage of and access to information, and the specific benefits of and barriers to special library networks. Examples of networking by special librarians are given, and suggestions are made for special librarians wishing to participate in formal…

A cost-benefit analysis of the 43-library, 260,000-title Midwest Medical Union Catalog of books, conducted from June 1973 through May 1975 under a grant from the National Library of Medicine, studied the 49 year-old catalog in the context of interlibrary loan activity of the Midwest Health Science Library Network. (Author)

Discussion of the scope of electronic information resources available to libraries includes examples of several new sources. Solutions to increasing patron demand for materials are considered, including interlibrary loan, for-profit companies and agencies, and services that allow patrons to request materials directly. Issues of staff training,…

When a small agriculture research library initiated computer-based retrospective literature searches, there was a significant increase in the library's interlibrary loan activity. Results of a study to determine the extent to which interlibrary loan activity was affected by the implementation of this service are reported. (JPF)

The effects of personal systems on formal library and secondary information services use are analyzed. Conclusions are that personal information systems are not personalized libraries;'' formal library services should concentrate on developing complimentary programs. (9 references) (Author)

Description of a microcomputer-based system for local processing of interlibrary loan (ILL) requests developed at Environmental Protection Agency library discusses database management systems, hardware, databases, and command files. Subsequent changes resulting from system's implementation at East Carolina University Health Sciences Library are…

Describes the use of fixed point analysis procedures at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to determine as narrow a range as possible of interlibrary loan turnaround times in science and engineering subjects. The findings are discussed in terms of the complexity of interlibrary loan factors and items determined as relevant for further…