Five articles present an overview of trends and issues affecting rural libraries. The areas discussed include the status of rural library services; outreach programs; the role of library cooperation in the support of rural library service; the development of rural information centers; and political marketing of the rural library. (CLB)

Discusses the Interlibrary Delivery Service of Pennsylvania (IDS), which was established in 1969 to facilitate transmittal of interlibrary loan shipments and other educational items among its members (currently 193 academic, public, and school libraries). Topics addressed include interlibrary cooperation in Pennsylvania, statewide expansion of…

Describes a system of resource sharing based on dial-up access to CD-ROM databases that was developed by a group of rural public and school libraries in Washington that includes document delivery, involves no network, and is inexpensive. Highlights include computer selection; database selection; licensing fees; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Describes a cooperative effort among five Bronx libraries, known as the Bronx Library Emergency Consortium, which is designed to enhance emergency recovery procedures in their libraries should a disaster occur. The history and collaborative nature of the consortium are described, and the consortium equipment and supply list for immediate disaster…

Discussion of joint-use, or cooperative, libraries focuses on a partnership between public and school libraries in Nevada. Highlights include benefits in enhanced services, user needs, location of facilities, administration and planning, financial issues, facility maintenance, remodelling, and signage. (LRW)