This paper will look at the services presently offered to distance students by libraries within the categories of professional staff, access to resources, reference assistance, and library user instruction. It will then offer the argument that these services could be improved by developing embedded librarians within online academic courses as a…

Rapidly developing online information technologies provide dramatically new capabilities and opportunities, and place new responsibilities on all involved to recreate networks for scholarly communication. Collaborations between all segments of the information network are made possible and necessary as we attempt to find a balanced and mutually…

In the late 1980s, when few Canadian citizens had Internet access, federal departments and agencies in Canada were already preparing for the future by putting information and documentation online. This paper outlines several government-sponsored programs--SchoolNet, the Canadian Investment Fund, Community Access Program, Canada Foundation for…

Discusses forces working against traditional academic libraries, including bureaucrats who do not understand libraries and want to save money and people who think technology will be able to provide better access to information without any guidance. Topics addressed include money and power; the economics of the publishing industry; and funding for…

Four articles discuss (1) the role of the Bureau of the Census depository library program; (2) the history of the Federal Information Locator System (FILS) and a vision of the future for FILS; (3) design criteria for creating a governmentwide information inventory/locator system; and (4) the potential for developing electronic census products. (SD)

This paper discusses the evolution of national bibliographies. The first section provides an overview of the development over the last 30 years of national bibliographies in the context of universal bibliographic control. The second section describes the following major functions of national bibliographies: (1) national bibliographies are set out…

Discusses the policy issues surrounding the provision of electronic information services by the Regional Bell Operating Companies and describes court cases, legislative activities, and key players. Concerns for librarians, including freedom of expression, privacy, and access to service are noted; and a sidebar summarizes American Library…

Discusses the role of libraries in providing access to data in electronic form. Types of data are described, including social data, scientific data, and humanities data; the definition of libraries and library services is considered; and acquisition of the skills needed to provide effective access is discussed. (20 references) (LRW)

Discussion of the influences of technology on the publishing industry focuses on locally loaded databases and database licensing to help integrate a variety of data into one system for libraries. Local online systems are described, and the responsibilities and roles of the library, the publisher, and the vendor are discussed. (LRW)

Librarians should become more active in designing information systems so that their extensive knowledge of how people articulate their information needs and evaluate their findings can be incorporated into new systems. These systems would be more responsive to user needs than those driven by the machine or data processing mindset. (EM)

The assumption is made that what the 1990s have in store for users of depository libraries will hinge on three crucial areas: (1) the reform and development of government information policies; (2) changing technology; and (3) the willingness and ability of the depository libraries to accommodate these changes. The uncertain role of the government…

Discusses problems and as-yet unresolved questions about public access to government documents raised by electronic publishing. One solution is libraries should adapt to include electronic files of government publications and include them in the growing digital collections. The way that librarians approach the struggle to maintain free and open…

Based on the Survey of Scholars conducted by the American Council of Learned Societies' Office of Scholarly Communication and Technology, this report examines the need for better two-way communication between libraries and scholars as a means of easing the transition to the use of today's new and diverse information resources. A concise summary…

Librarians need to take the initiative and seize the opportunities presented by a changing environment and society's demands for greater access to information. New technologies such as laser disks, machine indexing, telefacsimile, microcomputer applications, and fiber optics are having an immense impact on the practice of librarianship, and the…

Compares, contrasts, and critiques predictions that have been made about the future of research libraries, focusing on the impact of technology on the library's role and users' needs. The discussion includes models for the adaptation of new technologies that may assist in library planning and change. (38 references) (CLB)