Purpose: This paper aims to focus on academic library managers' learning practices in the context of cooperative work supported by computational artefacts. Academic library managers' everyday work is mainly cooperative. Their cooperation is supported predominantly by computational artefacts. Learning how to use the computational artefacts…

For school librarians, technology is an essential component of their work. To meet the growing need in this area, Odin Jurkowski first wrote Technology and the School Library in 2006. To address the technological advancements, Jurkowski provides an overview of the types of technologies used in school libraries, from traditional low-tech options to…

At the end of 2007, SirsiDynix introduced the first version of Symphony, its new flagship Integrated Library System (ILS). This article begins with a look at the evolution of Symphony, user reactions to Symphony, and Symphony's design and functionality. The authors, along with a team of librarians from various functional areas, have completed…

This article presents the results of a comprehensive survey of integrated library system (ILS) vendors conducted by the author and commissioned by "Computers in Libraries" CIL. The survey was intended to: (1) provide an up-to-date comparison of functionality currently available in ILS products; (2) provide a comparison of support services…

This article discusses trends in five areas relating to software developed for libraries, and based on these trends, the author's predictions for developments that might play out in the next few years. The author's predictions, based on his own empirical observations, include: (1) the integrated library system (ILS) will be reintegrated; (2) the…

What would technological librarians like to see in the next generation of Integrated Library Systems (ILS)? This question was asked of several well- known library technology experts, and their responses are presented in this article. Survey respondents expressed a clear desire for the following features and functionality: (1) Direct, read-only…

Covers some general developments in circulation technology, vendor and network approaches to circulation, problem areas, and some hints on system procurement. (Author)

Describes the benefits and drawbacks of the use of OCLC in the one-person library at the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. Cataloging functions, interlibrary loan, retrospective catalog conversion, dial access to online databases, and training problems are discussed. (JL)

BELLTIP is an on-line library processing system concerned with book acquisitions, cataloging, and financial accounting for a newwork of 26 technical libraries. At its center is an interactively updated and queried set of files concerned with all items currently in process. Principal products include all purchase orders, claims, and cancellations;…

Describes the experience of an American Library Association (ALA) Fellow at Can Tho University (Vietnam) assisting Khmer monks at the library of Wat Muniransyarama (Temple of Intelligent Light) in designing and implementing a library automation system and network. Highlights the preservation of Khmer and Theravada Buddhist texts and the efforts of…

The Indiana Seminar on Information Networks (ISIN) was the result of the realization that many Indiana librarians were not fully aware of the benefits of library networking and were not really using the Indiana TWX network to its fullest advantage. In addition, it was felt that the statewide TWX arrangement and its available services needed more…

This article is a summation of several university and university library publications. Subjects covered are automation, university reform and the library, librarians, and the future of university libraries. (6 references) (DH)

This review of recent and anticipated advances in library automation technology and methodology includes a review of the effects of OCLC, MARC formatting, AACR2, and increasing costs, as well as predictions of the impact on library technical processing of networking, expansion of automation, minicomputers, specialized reference services, and…

The activities of the Southwestern Library Cooperative Endeavor (SLICE) project are directed to those concerned with regional, multi-state library networks and continuing education for library staffs. Two SLICE projects are reviewed in this quarterly report: the planning of a six-state regional bibliographic network, and continuing education for…

Four intertwined issues in networking--local systems, linking, linking standards, and database ownership--need to be dealt with by bibliographic utilities and librarians, as their members, in the very near future. The resolution of these major issues will significantly affect the future direction of nationwide networking. (Author)