Northern Michigan University (NMU) is a public 4-year undergraduate institution of higher education with an enrollment of approximately 9,500 students. The university's Division of Academic Information Services encompasses both the staff of the library, which includes authors Clumpner and Burgmeier, and the instructional technology areas, where…

In this article, the author discusses using Second Life (SL) in school librarianship. SL is a multi-user virtual environment in which persons create avatars to allow them to move and interact with other avatars. They can build and manipulate objects. To move, they can walk, run, fly, or teleport. There are many areas within SL to allow people to…

Describes current online technology, including the physical and functional aspects of three types of networks: search service, customized service providing bibliographic files, and service center. (FM)

Describes the emergence of resource center forums (i.e., popular information networks) in South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. Background and objectives are summarized for the Transkei Fieldworkers' network, Natal Resource Centre Forum, Cape Inter-Resource Forum, Transvaal Resource Centre Network, Sekhukhuneland Educational Projects forum, and…

This historical overview of the California Library Authority for Systems and Services (CLASS--recently renamed Cooperative Library Agency for Systems and Services) highlights its origins, purposes, governance, committees, programs, products, organization and planning, inclusion of out-of-state libraries, long range plan, issues, a management study…

This summary report of the Governor's Conference in Colorado which preceded the White House Conference on Library and Information Services provides brief descriptions of such pre-conference activities as regional meetings, "speak-outs" on local issues, and the preparation of position papers by professional library groups, as well as an…

This seventh annual report covers the activities of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from October 1, 1977 through September 30, 1978. The nature and goals of NCLIS are described, and its role in the planning of the White House Conference on Library and Information Services (WHCLIS) is detailed. Other NCLIS…

This presentation by the president and chief executive officer of OCLC focuses on library automation and networking in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, citing an article by Richard DeGennaro and relating experiences at OCLC in resource sharing and related information services. (EJS)

Describes the history and development of the Tri-State College Library Cooperative (TCLC) Literature Search Center, a network of small academic libraries that cooperate to provide a computerized literature search service. (FM)

Discusses topics relating to the Virginia Tech Library System: the company (VTLS, Inc.); the software; data structure; cataloging, status, and authority control; circulation; serials control and acquisitions; the online catalog; management reporting; networking; and the operating environment. Sidebars discuss the Vanilla Network; LINNEA--a network…

This eighth annual report covers the activities of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from October 1, 1978 through September 30, 1979. Information on the background, composition, and role of the commission is provided, followed by descriptions of preparations for the first White House Conference on Library and…

This report describes a series of workshops and a forum held to identify and assess existing collections in Northern Virginia institutions (libraries, universities, agencies, etc.) in the following subject areas: non-print materials, children's literature, consumer education, health sciences, library and information science, local history and…

Reviews recent progress in the development and use of online retrieval services, integrated online library support software, and communication and networking standards. A description is provided of a prototype system that would combine a gateway capability with a locally managed facility to meet a library's total needs. (EM)

Discusses the need for an online interface between existing networks and between stand-alone systems and networks through examination of network synergy, trends in networking, and types of services provided by online library networks. The need for creation of implemented network standards for network message traffic is noted. (CWM)

This paper examines information services and resource sharing within New Zealand with a view to future participation in a Pacific resource sharing network. Activities of the National Library, the New Zealand Library Resources Committee, and the Information Services Committee are reviewed over a 40-year period, illustrating library cooperative…