To better understand health information provision in the public library setting, two cooperative library systems that serve primarily rural populations in upstate New York were studied. The central library in one of those systems established a consumer health information center (CHIC) in 1999. In the other system, the central library does not have…

Reference services in public libraries are changing dramatically. The Internet, online databases, and shrinking budgets are all making it necessary for non-traditional reference staff to become familiar with online reference tools. Recognizing the need for cross-training, Chesapeake Public Library (CPL) developed a program called the Database…

This article describes how York University analyzed the results from its 2010-11 implementation of the Measuring the Impact of Networked Electronic Services for Libraries survey to measure value of investments in e-resources. The results were assessed through two variables: e-resources used by faculty when carrying out funded and non-funded…

The year 2011 was the PALNI (Private Academic Library Network of Indiana) consortium's "rookie season" for the implementation of Primo, the 2010 Discovery Layer 500 race winner. In this article, the authors report on their transition to the cloud within Ex Libris Ltd.'s Primo TotalCare environment: their preparation, the steps involved…

This article describes the development of the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA). The VIVA statistics-processing system remains a work in progress. Member libraries will benefit from the ability to obtain the actual data from the VIVA site, rather than just the summaries, so a project to make these data available is currently being planned. The…

Provides a map representing automated library networks in North America with a list of their acronyms and abbreviations. (CWM)

Profiles four major bibliographic utilities: the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), the Washington Library Network (WLN), and the University of Toronto Library Automation Systems (UTLAS). (FM)

An investigation of the feasibility of using a computer-assisted decentralized bibliographic control system to build a comprehensive, consistent national database for use in a national library network used the Northwestern On-line Total Integrated System to establish a center for African materials at Northwestern University. Eleven references are…

Briefly describes the origin and development of some major online bibliographic utilities, including the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the University of Toronto Library Automation Systems (UTLAS), and the Washington Library Network (WLN). (FM)

Presents a series of questions and answers pertaining to the relationship between the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) and the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and touches on matters of policy and linkages. (FM)

Describes how library networks develop technology cooperatively and assesses future network roles in the light of new developments. (Author/LLS)

Summarizes results of a project which analyzed data for decisions concerning linking; i.e., whether and how to link utilities in order to pool bibliographic resources. Benefits and problems of links for cataloging, interlibrary loan, and online reference are discussed. A cost-revenue model which analyzes alternatives for linking is presented. (SW)

Announces a project for national bibliographic control under the sponsorship of the Council on Library Resources. Areas explored will be the possibility of linking various bibliographic utilities and networks, cooperative planning, review of the Library of Congress' Network Development Office project as a potential nationwide database, and the…

Printings and editions of a given monographic title are noted as major causes of duplicate bibliographic records in bibliographic networks. Considerations which cataloger must note--history of printing technology, cataloging rules, Library of Congress policy, local practices, and standards of bibliographic utilities--are discussed. Thirty-three…

Describes the replication agreements between WLN and replicating institutions such as the National Library of Australia and the University of Illinois whereby use of WLN software is permitted on the basis of reciprocity of bibliographic information by the contracting parties. (RAA)