People see challenges to libraries in funding, in ebooks, and in the internet. However, in this information-rich age, librarians' roles are even more important. They are information experts. They know how to think about the changing information environment, and they know the impact--both positive and negative--it can have on people whose jobs…

Formed in 1996, Internet2 is a not-for-profit advanced network consortium led by the U.S. research and higher education community. Its goals are to provide leading-edge network capabilities and to facilitate the development, deployment, and use of revolutionary Internet technologies. Starting with 34 universities, Internet2 has grown to more than…

Provides background on networks and describes two national networks, the Internet and BITNET. Several related topics are also addressed: convergence of BITNET and the Internet; network decentralization; a proposed comprehensive national research and education network (NREN); libraries and the proposed network; and the library of the future. A…

Discussion of the impact of the Internet on libraries focuses on librarians as creators and marketers of new online services. Describes two fee-based online services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and concludes that academic libraries have the ability to create new online services, especially reference services. (Author/LRW)

Explores college and university students' perceptions of the Internet and Internet resources; their criteria for evaluating information gathered from the Internet; views about the role of the library, librarians and traditional library resources in relation to the Internet; and how faculty perceptions of the Internet compare with student…

Discusses the growing problem of plagiarism in academia, particularly with Internet-based resources. Topics include factors influencing student behaviors and attitudes toward plagiarism; faculty attitudes; and the role of librarians in helping to prevent and detect plagiarism, including student instruction and forming partnerships with faculty.…

Describes results of a survey of catalogers in academic libraries that investigated if and how their job functions have changed over the past 10 years. The 271 respondents discussed a change from print to electronic formats, involvement of nonprofessionals, outsourcing, and more cataloging of specialized items including Internet resources.…

The growth and influence of the Internet have been phenomenal in the past few years. Academic librarians are faced with a new service for their clientele who, in most cases, will need instruction in order to use the Internet effectively. Many academic libraries are already providing training sessions for their users. A survey of 150 libraries was…

The role of libraries within the virtual university is unclear, and the danger exists that students will be expected to rely solely on the Internet. This article argues that librarians must reinvent the library and their role as information providers. Examines virtual universities in Australia and North America and the roles of librarians and…

Describes the development of a Web site at Union College's (NY) Schaffer Library that was designed to provide access to library and Internet resources. Home page design as well as site design is discussed, features of the site are explained, and future expectations are considered, including the role of the library. (LRW)

Describes the work of librarians at Illinois State University in teaching faculty about the Internet through a series of librarian-initiated and faculty-initiated projects. Explains how librarians continued their role as information providers, adapting to the situations faced by the faculty, whose information needs did not always match their…

Describes Internet, a collection of telecommunications networks that links government agencies, educational institutions, and other research organizations so that users can share access to databases and files. Topics discussed include problems in identifying what is available; access concerns; ethical behavior; support and training issues for…

Surveys 543 college students to identify their preferred criteria when evaluating Internet-based and library-based sources. Finds (1) students writing research reports (63% of students) ranked easy-to-find sources most highly, whether library-based or Internet-based; (2) nearly 60% of students received library training, most frequently from high…

Analyzes the implications of electronic book technology (e-books) on academic libraries. Discusses new business models for publishers, including self-publishing, Internet publishing, and partnerships with libraries as publishers; impact on library services, including cataloging, circulation, and digital preservation; user benefits; standards;…

Based on an analysis of the direction of library development and changes in librarians' social functions, this paper presents some key measures in the reform of library and information science education. The first section discusses the developing direction of the library cause under the network environment. The second section covers librarians'…