Discussion of digital libraries focuses on the need for personalization capabilities so users can create their own personalized information environments. Highlights include material personalization; collection personalization; active reading; personalized retrieving; personalized filtering; and a prototype system. (LRW)

Describes the social construction of technology (SCOT) framework which encourages a focus on the multiple perspectives inherent in the development and evaluation of digital libraries. Relevant social groups, interpretive flexibility, and closure are used to examine an evaluation case study of the "Making of America" (MOA) digital library…

Traces the history of library cataloging from manual to electronic organization and reviews current attempts to organize electronic information. Highlights include characteristics of traditional cataloging, Internet indexing projects, cataloging Internet resources, defining the electronic unit of control, and visions for the future. (Author/LRW)

Discusses accessibility to library Web sites to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and examines guidelines being developed by the Web Accessibility Initiative for building Web sites that are accessible to people with disabilities. Topics include degradation; meaning versus structure; content structure; and testing for…

Considers whether libraries are artifact-bound institutions and therefore will be replaced as the dominant technology for information communication moves from tangible objects to electronic bits on a network. Topics include what libraries are for; libraries as information subsidy; subsidies for networked information; and the digital library as…

Presents a statement by the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) that addresses concerns about the current electronic information environment, the desired environment for the future, and the preferred practices for library consortia and their member libraries for the selection and purchase of electronic information. (LRW)

Reviews the history of library consortia, examines present activities, and considers future possibilities. Topics include consortium and cooperation; academic consortia; library automation and the development of library consortia; consortia with other countries; and electronic libraries. Tables include library consortia establishment, institutions…

Describes the MALMAD (Israel Center for Digital Information Services) consortium that was set up by the eight universities of Israel to serve as a common framework for the procurement and licensing of digital information. Discusses the organizational framework, budget, services, and future plans. (Author/LRW)

Reviews the history of the University of Michigan's UMLibText project that was designed to provide expanded and/or enhanced access to electronic information resources. Current holdings on the system are described; access and user support are discussed; use data and trends are examined; and future directions are considered. (Contains two…

Describes how extended reference service is offered within the electronic environment at the University of Central Florida Library. Discusses how new technologies, specifically electronic discussion lists, facilitate reporting and program implementation within the library community as a whole. Summarizes underlying principles, alternative…

Client/server computing and the adoption of the World Wide Web make it possible for academic libraries to build automated library systems that present locally mounted and remote resources through a common interface. This article recounts issues encountered by the Iowa State University Library as it undertook this process. (Author/LRW)

Discussion of library digital reference services focuses on the features of instant messaging reference systems and the in-house development of a system that incorporates them at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Summarizes and evaluates library chat system features and compares commercial software that is available. (Author/LRW)

Describes issues and advances in the design of appropriate inference engines and knowledge structures needed by commercially feasible intelligent intermediary systems for information retrieval. Issues associated with the design of interfaces to such functions are discussed in detail. Design principles for guiding implementation of these interfaces…

Discussion of virtual reference services focuses on software that is currently available and further developments that are needed. Topics include co-browsing and collaboration capabilities; communications technology, including chat technology and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP); networked reference services; and online reference collections…

Presents three criteria (content, coherence, and functionality) for selecting aggregated World Wide Web resources and planning presentations of aggregated resources in library catalogs and Web pages. Ensuring access to aggregated resources is also discussed. (PEN)