As data as a scholarly object continues to grow in importance in the research community, librarians are undertaking increasing responsibilities regarding data management and curation. New library initiatives include assisting researchers in finding data sets for reuse; locating and hosting repositories for required archiving; consultations on…

This report examines the potential impact of optical media--videodiscs, compact audio discs, and optical disks, tapes, and cards--in library related applications. A detailed consideration of the technology includes discussion of the underlying principles, the various forms in which the technology is marketed, production methods and costs, and the…

Microfiche storage and computer-assistance to produce multilingual indexes at the United Nations Headquarters Library are described. (Author/NH)

The survey examines three commercial services which reproduce on microfiche the catalog card output of the Library of Congress. Two services which index the National Union Catalog (NUC) and the Title II depository cards by LC card number are also described. (Author/NH)

Researchers make little or no use of formal information systems. This is due, not so much to 'information apathy' on their part, as to faults inherent in information services as a whole. A formal information service may not come through at all. It is not capable of reaching behind a request to the real question that motivated it. By not being able…

The current library environment is first examined, and an attempt is made to explain why the standard approaches to the library problem have been less productive than had been anticipated. A new design is then introduced for modern library operations based on a two-fold strategy: on the input side, the widest possible utilization should be made of…

"The purpose of this paper is to bring to computer professionals a realistic view of what a large library is and what the jobs and costs are which a librarian must worry about. Written by the director of libraries at MIT. (Author/LS)

At a Newspaper Division meeting of the Special Libraries Association four newspaper librarians presented the pros and cons of closed clipping files. The major point in favor of closed files was that they are not as subject to loss and misfiling as are openfiles. However, with closed files close communication is needed between librarian and…

A simulation study of library-based information retrieval systems is described. Basic models for each of several important aspects are presented: (1) user behavior, emphasizing response to quality and delays in services; (2) the scheduling of services and the organization of the machine-readable files; and (3) the distribution of conventional…

The growth and proliferation of machine-readable data bases have created a need to consider the nature of recent developments, the impact of those developments on library and information services, and their relationship with the National Commission on Library and Information Science (NCLIS) program. Data bases may contain information in a variety…

This paper, based on lectures given during a tour of Czechoslovakia, outlines how the county of Hertfordshire, England has endeavoured to meet its obligations to education, industry, commerce and professional personnel in the dissemination of scientific and technical information. During the first ten years of development, the program has ensured…

Outlines five areas to which standards of professionalism to enhance the public service of microform collections must apply: microform management policy; the microforms librarians; physical environment and equipment; bibliographic control and access (microform collection guides); and promotion of microform use (bibliographic instruction). Five…

A file management system provides a powerful search tool for library reference groups. The system described produces current awareness and retrospective searches from diverse data bases. The same query language is used to interrogate all data bases in on-line or batch mode searches. (4 references) (Author/DH)

Presents an overview of projects aimed at identifying the impact and value of digital and networking technologies on the British Library's collection and services. Examines the way in which the issues of preparation, scanning, and storage have been dealt with, as well as general principles that can be drawn from these experiences. (AEF)