The truest meaning of public service was that, although never used by all citizens, it was still available for any citizen. Whether public service in America can survive in the next decade, and maintain its basic altruistic concepts, will be the concern of all librarians. (Author/NH)

This overview of telecommunications for librarians provides background on the following topics: (1) basic terminology; (2) cable television; (3) microwaves; (4) local area networking; (5) wide area networking; (6) X.25 networking; (7) other types of network media; and (8) mobile data radio. (MES)

Discusses issues relating to library software including: (1) the library market; (2) library participation in software development; (3) customer support; (4) software standards; (5) copy protection and software theft; and (6) software reviews. (MES)

Authority control of a cataloging database is essential to support an effective machine readable catalog. Automated authority control can provide assistance with the difficult, intellectually demanding part of cataloging: integrating new items into a collection. (Author)

The focus of this statement from the computer industry is on types of failures and their causes. (MM)

Introduces four articles on the development of information retrieval standards by people closely involved in the process. Standards organizations are described, addresses are given, and information sources are listed. (five references) (EA)

This report of the American Library Association's 1987 conference in San Francisco summarizes meetings on: local area networks, personal liability of library trustees, librarian shortages, AIDS education, CD-ROM technology, literacy, Black librarians and the political process, and restriction of young adult literature. Exhibit highlights are also…

Describes several strategies for obtaining funding for library automation, including convincing management of the importance of automating; buying computer parts individually; upgrading gradually; subscribing to a CD-ROM service that includes equipment; identifying equipment by function (e.g., database search units); trading off less important…

Discusses the long-term value of bibliographic records to the library and the cost and service implications of that value. Topics covered include records in the public domain; sources of machine-readable bibliographic records (bibliographic utilities, state and multistate networks, commercial vendors, federal agencies, libraries); rights and…

How the Library of Congress lives up to its present expectations as a national center for acquisitions, bibliography, and library computer applications (second in a two-part series). (JB)

Reviews five CD-ROM catalogs: (1) Auto-Graphics Impact; (2) Brodart LePac; (3) GRC LaserGuide; (4) Library Corporation Intelligent Catalog; and (5) MARCIVE Pac. General guidelines for selecting a CD-ROM catalog are discussed, and vendor addresses and telephone numbers are listed. (MES)

General areas covered in this review include: micrographics, cataloger's cameras, binding, photocopiers, conservation of library materials, automation, and audiovisual equipment. (Author/SJ)

Responses to librarians' questions about library microcomputers cover simple applications to be used by staff with little experience, minimizing risk factor, choosing a microcomputer, hardware obsolescence, uses of mainframes and minicomputers, capacity planning for microcomputers, security of library's data, copyrighted software, and future use…

Assesses the effect of the communications technology revolution on library and information specialists and the environment for the delivery of library services. Four functions affecting the library and information environment--management, communications, instruction, and publication--are noted. (EJS)

This overview of vendors supplying goods and services to libraries notes the development of library suppliers, services offered by subscription agencies, the use of online systems, services offered by book jobbers, other vendor services, binderies, and consumerism. (EJS)