Defines terms and acronyms used in discussions of online bibliographic utilities in order to help librarians and other users compare the four major networks. (FM)

Profiles four major bibliographic utilities: the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), the Washington Library Network (WLN), and the University of Toronto Library Automation Systems (UTLAS). (FM)

Contains three letters responding to Michael Gorman's column on bibliographic democracy and the major information networks ("Network! Or, I'm Rational as Hell and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore,""American Libraries," January 1980). (FM)

Briefly describes the origin and development of some major online bibliographic utilities, including the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the University of Toronto Library Automation Systems (UTLAS), and the Washington Library Network (WLN). (FM)

Presents a series of questions and answers pertaining to the relationship between the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) and the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and touches on matters of policy and linkages. (FM)

Describes customer call centers that provide customer service and support in business and considers how their routines could be adapted to library operations. Topics include centralized staff; interactive voice response; automated call distribution; question analysis; sophisticated software; training and monitoring; telephone reference; and…

Discusses issues involved in the creation of the National Research and Education Network (NREN). Telecommunications technology is described; support from industry and libraries is discussed; and problems with NREN are raised, including equal access to computerized information, privacy issues, and protection of First Amendment rights. (LRW)

The challenge and opportunity for state libraries to participate in library networks are here, yet state libraries are little known to users, the majority of librarians and the general public. (AB)

Other states planning plans for libraries may benefit from lessons learned in Ohio's library Development Plan. (AB)

Described is the network of regional research centers for public archives and private manuscripts located in university libraries and operated by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. (7 references) (SJ)

Recounts the history of the Research Libraries Group (RLG) and Stanford University's involvement in it, with an account of the problems that developed with the system, particularly several computer failures which almost spelled the end of the network. The comments of key figures in the RLG story are included. (JL)

Discusses the potential for linking large metropolitan public libraries to international interlibrary loan networks. Issues involved in international networking, including funding, standards, network connectivity, and protectionism, are discussed. Examples of libraries capable of participating and brief descriptions of their collections are given.…

Briefly describes BALLOTS (Bibliographic Automation of Large Library Operations using a Time-sharing System). (PF)

Seven experts in system planning offer their views on how optical disk systems will affect library participation in online networks, and discuss opportunities presented by these new products. (CLB)

This simplified description of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) includes an interview with OCLC director Fred Kilgour. (PF)