Social media now offer a fresh opportunity to enliven the learning process. But to gain traction, they will have to prove their relevance. Librarians are quite vocal in advocating for the preservation of human interaction around digital media; one might say that it is their charge to be certain that the human factors within digital libraries are…

Through the power of easily accessible and engaging new digital media technologies, family and oral histories can give voice to the unknown and overlooked stories of immigrants and their families--stories that often never make it beyond the children or the grandchildren. The academic library can be a natural focal point for this interaction and…

Describes the UTAD (Utah Article Delivery) Pilot Project, an innovative resource-sharing service that provides journal articles to the Utah higher education community, developed by the Utah Academic Library Consortium (UALC) in partnership with EBSCO Document Services. Highlights include goals, options considered, challenges, and evaluation. The…

Discussion of strategic planning in libraries focuses on a five-step process based on academic libraries. Highlights include a situational and environmental analysis; development of organizational direction, including vision, mission, and objectives; formulation of the strategic plan; implementation; and control, feedback, and evaluation. (LRW)

The Internet Public Library (IPL), hosted by the University of Michigan School of Information is an operating virtual library that answers reference questions from all over the world. Discussion includes the construct of the IPL Reference Center, how the Reference Center handles questions, and characteristics of e-mail reference service. (AEF)

Discusses computer networks and online searching in libraries and describes plans for the development of the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Cooperation of government, academia, and industry is highlighted, digital video interactive (DVI) is described, implementation phases are explained, and current legislative developments are…

Describes a survey of public and academic libraries in Ohio that was conducted to examine the processes used to select and implement integrated library systems. Machine readable records are discussed, the computer environment in libraries is described, and satisfaction with the systems is examined. (eight references) (LRW)

Explains a team approach to writing grants that was developed at the Southern University (Louisiana) library to meet their need for updated technology. Discusses the need for outside funding sources for academic libraries; team responsibilities; the library director's role; and the role of the Internet as a source of information. (Contains 2…

An academic librarian at the University of South Carolina, faced with providing online resources for distant and distributed learners, examines whether there is any difference between distant and distributed learners. Illustrates changes brought on by implementation of information technologies. Discusses seeking a new definition, meeting…

Describes the components--hardware, software and applications, CD-ROM and online reference resources, and telecommunications links--of an electronic library workstation in use at Clarkson University (Potsdam, New York). Data manipulation, a hypothetical research scenario, and recommended workstation capabilities are also discussed. (MES)