Presents results of a study that examined the kinds of statistics on children's services collected by state library agencies and juvenile circulation statistics collected by individual libraries. Data on libraries are compared according to the size of the library; and the incidence of automated systems for various sizes of libraries is reported.…

Describes external sources of funding for public libraries to establish and maintain their technology infrastructure, telecommunications services, and network-based resources and services. Highlights include LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act); the E-rate program; and the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation U.S. Library Program. (LRW)

Explains the criteria by which 50 public libraries were chosen as outstanding, and reports the results of a survey of the directors which focused on major problems in libraries; desired goals in administration and technical and public services; predicted trends; stage of computerization; and sources of information and new ideas. (CLB)

Discusses current issues in measuring library effectiveness, including rapid technological changes and increasing obsolescence in librarians' competencies; increased pressure for accountability; tools to help libraries become what they determine they should be rather than conforming to national standards; and how to determine the validity and…

Highlights some important conditions, both present and future, which will have an impact on public libraries. Discusses holding down expenses, including user fees, alternative funding sources, and private cosponsorship of programs; increasing productivity; use of computers and new technologies; staff development and internal marketing; improving…

Provides an overview of the North American Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery Project that was initiated by the Association of Research Libraries to facilitate the delivery of materials to users at manageable costs. Highlights include vendors; management and financial software; standards; library policies; organizational and service…

Describes Microlif (Microcomputer Library Interchange Format), a standard data interchange format for bibliographic information on microcomputers. Discussion includes reasons for Microlif development, differences from full MARC format, and development of the new USMARC (Microlif protocol). Members of the Microlif community are listed, and the…

The Interlibrary Cooperation Committee of the Public Library Association researched the literature to study trends in library networking over the last two decades, including increased cooperation among different types of libraries and legislation supporting this trend. Changes found are reported in two articles covering technology, governance,…

Discussion of issues that should be addressed when catalogers in small public libraries begin to automate as part of a consortium uses library cooperatives from Massachusetts (Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing, CLAMS) and Florida as examples. Topics discussed include characteristics of the catalogers; cataloging standards; decision…

Summarizes some of the applications of automation in the Miami-Dade (Florida) Public Library System. A detailed discussion of the system CD-ROM LAN (Local Area Network) covers hardware and software, cost factors, advantages of networking CD-ROMs, problems, and evaluation. It is concluded that the advantages of a CD-ROM LAN outweigh the…

Seven section and committee representatives of the Public Library Association (PLA) describe how technology has affected the activities in their immediate PLA areas, identify trends in technology likely to change the way public libraries do business, and assess staff and patron reactions to automation. (Six references) (CLB)

Discusses and compares the incorporation of technology by larger public libraries in Canada and the United States. Technology mentioned includes online public access catalogs; remote and local online database searching; microcomputers and software for public use; and fax, voice mail, and Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf and Teletype writer…