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)

Contains three letters responding to Michael Gorman's column on bibliographic democracy and the major information networks ("Network! Or, I'm Rational as Hell and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore,""American Libraries," January 1980). (FM)

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)

This paper is an extension of "Referential Consulting Networks" which explicated the concept of a network of referential consultants each of whom could "field" questions by: (a) answering them on the basis of his own expertise; (b) answer them with the help of library resources at his command; (c) refer the question to a…

This report presents an analysis of the search query arguments of several major bibliographic utilities and shows the commonalities and differences of the query structure among the various systems. The report illustrates a symbolic metalanguage that was developed to describe and compare the search arguments. In addition, status and error messages…

Describes design and implementation of the Research Libraries Information Network Reports System, which provides generalized computer programs for selecting MARC records and preparing bibliographic lists. Discussion includes overview of list production, establishing control languages, selection (library and status filtering, logical filtering,…

The problems and prospects faced by involving the nonprint informational units in interlibrary communication and information networks are described. Nonprint materials are defined as those materials not totally dependent on the printed word for meaning. Nonprint materials were further identified as storage devices for information or…

Reference service is defined as the mediation by a librarian between the need structures of users and the structures of information resources. The general process by which reference librarians accomplish this is outlined as including the phases of question clarification, question translation, search strategy formulation, search execution, delivery…

The challenge of networking is now being extended to cooperative library and information center systems. There are new demands for improved techniques for image storage and transmission, specifically including automated storage and retrieval of microforms and ultra-microforms and new developments in graphic and facsimile transmission. In this…

The paper concerns some of the economic considerations inherent in designing user services that incorporate various communication systems. It describes three such services considered important in providing information to the biomedical community comprised of practicing physicians and those engaged in teaching and research, as well as other…

Conducted to review the present status of computerized bibliographic centers in Canada and to report on the most effective means of promoting computerized library network development in that country, this study summary of the findings of seven substudies (1) describes the salient features of 20 Canadian and United States centers; (2) reviews major…

Prepared for consideration by the Network Technical Architecture Group (NTAG), a subcommittee of the Library of Congress (LC) Network Advisory Group, this document describes the study and development of text formats for the message delivery system of a nationwide library bibliographic network. Following a discussion of network considerations of…

The seven papers in these proceedings focus on the characteristics and potentials of non-bibliographic databases in the context of library and commercial networks. Following an introduction by Sandra K. Paul, this report presents the individual papers: (1) "User Perspectives and Requirements: Creator of Non-Bibliographic Databases Has To Share…

The second edition of "Library and Information Science Today" (LIST) was designed, as was the first, to be a mechanism for gathering and disseminating timely information on significant work in progress in librarianship and information science. Introductory sections describe the registry and explain how to use it. The project descriptions which…