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…

Illustrates an approach for providing networked access to licensed databases over the Internet by positioning the library between patron and vendor. Describes how the gateway systems and database connection servers work and discusses how treatment of security has evolved with the introduction of the World Wide Web. Outlines plans to reimplement…

This article examines the role of advanced networks such as the National Science Foundation Network, with emphasis on their potential in improving information distribution and access in college and university libraries. Questions are posed concerning technical, political, institutional, and human aspects of networked information. (DB)

DCE (Distributed Computing Environment) is a collection of services, tools, and libraries for building the infrastructure necessary for distributed computing within an enterprise. This articles discusses the Open Software Foundation (OSF); the components of DCE, including the Directory and Security Services, the Distributed Time Service, and the…

This overview of the Research Libraries Group (RLG) discusses historical background, collaboration, new needs and expectations, the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN), the CitaDel service, the ARIEL service, the Eureka service, the Zephyr server, and JACKPHY-Plus Script Development, and preservation. (JLB)

The primary focus of this paper is on examining the inter-relationship of those parameters which affect the costs associated with various forms of telecommunications services. The basic limitation in the scope of this paper is that cost will be examined primarily in a relative sense rather than on an absolute basis. We feel that a summarization of…

The principle issues and parameters of concern at this conference on Interlibrary Communications and Information Networks are discussed. Information networks are defined as having information resources, readers, or users, schemes for the intellectual organization of documents and data, methods for the delivery of resources to users, formal…

The Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) access options have kept pace with the evolving trends in telecommunications and the library computing environment. As libraries deploy microcomputers and develop networks, OCLC offers access methods consistent with these environments. OCLC works toward reorienting its network paradigm through TCP/IP…

It is argued that Shera's macrobibliography'' or social epistemology'' provides not only a subject for theoretical study but that it will also be needed for the rational design of library and information systems and networks of the near future. (6 references) (Author)

As the use of information and the means to find it change due to computer and communication network technology and the advancement of online computer searching, abstracting and indexing services must decide which information services they intend to supply. (CWM)

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 report presents an analysis of the search query arguments of several major bibliographic utilities and shows the commonalities and differences of the query structure among the various systems. The report illustrates a symbolic metalanguage that was developed to describe and compare the search arguments. In addition, status and error messages…

The National Commission on Libraries and Information Science was created in 1970 as a coordinating and planning agency of the United States Government. In order to gain knowledge of the needs and views of library users throughout the country, the Commission conducted a sereis of regional hearings and supported four research studies. As its major…