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…

Describes origin, development, and current state of Research Libraries Information Network's (RLIN) Command Analysis System, which digests large quantities of raw data on RLIN use and performance and produces useful graphs and reports. Recent results of system and pragmatic issues in analysis of online systems are noted. (7 references) (EJS)

Discussion of Web databases, or search engines for the Internet, presents a series of questions that can be used to analyze these tools based on library literature. Six search engines are analyzed; collection methods, indexing, and abstracting are compared; and a proposal for a future ideal Web database is included. (Author/LRW)

Describes a librarians' retreat and workshop held at Western Kentucky University that was designed to introduce the participants to the Internet. Topics addressed include planning for the retreat; objectives; classroom presentations; a hands-on session in a computing lab; and feedback from participant evaluations. (LRW)

Discussion of improving subject access in online library catalogs focuses on a study that used a book description from "Book Review Digest" to evaluate the information on the bibliographic record found on the OCLC database. Matching by Library of Congress Subject Headings and by keywords in the title are discussed. (22 references) (LRW)

Reports the design, methodology, and results of a research project which examined the effectiveness of bibliographic displays produced by online catalogs. A means of testing displays against several hundred thousand records at a reasonable cost and using that to test several display possibilities is described. (CLB)

Describes Virginia Tech's participation in the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) Assessing the Academic Networked Environment Project to field test measures of the impact of networks and networked information resources on higher education institutions. Topics include student surveys, library surveys, administrative information services,…

Discussion of Internet software and its use in libraries focuses on a software evaluation program at the undergraduate library at Southern Illinois University. Highlights include staff training for information technology, availability and selection of shareware and freeware, and an evaluation form for Internet software. (LRW)

Presents four articles that explore various uses of information technology in libraries: (1) the publication of faculty bibliographies by a university library using microcomputers; (2) automation in Hungarian libraries; (3) integrating Utlas' CD-CATSS system into the cataloging workflow of a university library; and (4) reevaluating an integrated…

Reviews early pedagogical influences and recent ideas on Web-based instruction and applies them to Web-based library instruction, including selected exemplary sites. Discusses educational theories, learner motivation, organization of library modules, and interactivity for learning and assessment. Suggests that interactivity is necessary for active…

Reports on a survey measuring the performance of a merging algorithm used to generate the now-defunct ULM (Union List of Monographs) file for ALEPH, Israel's research library network. Discusses automatic detection and merging of duplicate bibliographic records, problems created by lack of a standard for Hebrew spelling, and methods for measuring…

This review of the overall findings of the "Educating the Online Catalog User" project at Northwestern University Library focuses on methods of data collection used in evaluating online catalog performance and user performance. The rationale and methodology of transaction log monitoring and new directions for technical development are…

Reports on the success of a pilot program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City library in course-integrated information literacy instruction in the field of medieval studies that stresses critical thinking skills to properly evaluate Web sites. Discusses faculty-librarian collaboration and future collaboration possibilities. (Contains 13…

Describes a pilot project at the Colorado State University library that provided reserve materials electronically through microcomputers via a campus computer network at no cost to students. Topics discussed include programming; user-friendly menus for software; results of students' and professors' evaluations; copyright issues; and possible…

Offers a model for choosing among CD-ROM, end user access, mediated online searching, or locally mounted files as alternatives for extending online catalogs and replacing printed indexes. Estimates of demand and comparisons of costs made at Trinity and Clemson Universities provide a quantitative framework for selection. (Contains four references.)…