Summarizes nine papers commissioned by the Department of Education for "Rethinking the Library in the 1990s." Common themes include user education, technological and social change, public policies, and changing roles for librarians. It is argued that these papers, which address adult services, need to be critiqued in terms of library…

Discusses current trends that are predicted to intensify and to change library operations and the way society uses information technology. Trends discussed include focus on user needs; direct user access of electronic information; the obsolescence of first and second generation systems; a contention between optical products and online access; and…

Describes nine categories of library automation systems intended for direct use by library patrons: catalog information systems; electronic information systems; information presentation systems; instructional systems; consultation systems; information services and delivery systems; conferencing systems; integrative systems; and user computing…

Reports on a study that examined the impact of national information networks, particularly the Internet and the emerging NREN (National Research and Education Network) on academic libraries. Topics addressed include academic computer services; costs; and academic library services, including electronic journals, electronic collection development,…

Questions the wisdom of permitting visions of the electronic library to drive budgets and strategic planning. Social and economic realities limiting user access to information, new roles for librarians, and models that guide management of information resources and services by real librarians for real users are discussed. A proposed action agenda…

Discusses the impact of technology on the profession of librarianship and suggests changes that are necessary for librarians to adapt to their changing role. Topics addressed include focusing on the mission of librarianship, i.e., providing access to information; librarians' sense of self-worth; educational requirements; and technological…

Examines the role of the online catalog in school libraries. Addresses the evolution of the online catalog, discussing connectivity, integration of technical and public services, networked hardware and software, user interface, and searching the catalog. Discusses the dual role of the library media specialist, of managing the catalog and offering…

Developed as a preliminary, literature-based study for a larger work in progress, this report summarizes the financial condition of academic libraries during the critical period from 1970 through the mid-1980's. The paper examines and addresses the issues which arose as libraries emerged from the 1960's, a time of unprecedented growth in library…

Papers on university and other research libraries, presented at the 1983 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference, include: (1) "The Impact of Technology on Users of Academic and Research Libraries," in which C. Lee Jones (United States) focuses on the impact of technical advances in computing and…

Academic library computing systems, which are among the most complex found in academic environments, now include external systems, such as online commercial search services and nationwide networks, and local systems that control and support internal operations. As librarians have realized the benefit of using computer systems to perform…

The community college library is the focus of this issue of "North Carolina Libraries." Articles addressing this theme include: (1) "Learning Resources Concept Position Paper," by the North Carolina Community College Learning Resources Association; (2) "An Opportunity and a Challenge," by Mertys W. Bell, which offers…

This paper provides an update on the status of library systems development in Canada and describes the new initiatives which the National Library is undertaking cooperatively with other institutions to facilitate the development of a nationwide decentralized bibliographic communication network. In order to place current network initiatives and the…

This report presents current and potential library applications of new technologies, issues surrounding their introduction into public libraries, and activities suggested for use during the introduction procedure. A brief appraisal of the public library's role in the information transfer process precedes a review of library automation in…

The authors of this second volume provide a composite contribution to a broader understanding of some of the major topics affecting libraries and their operation today. These contributions are in keeping with the aim of the series of providing scholarly reviews of specific topics related to the rapidly changing and advancing field of…

Special librarians are in unique position to become directly involved in the design, development, and management of automated in-house databases. Software packages called application generators enable the librarian/information scientist to develop database applications without programmer intervention and with very little or no knowledge of…