Describes six nontraditional online information sources and discusses how they could be used for library services or professional development: (1) ISAAC (Information System for Advanced Academic Computing); (2) NCIN (North Carolina Information Network); (3) Prodigy; (4) The Well (Whole Earth Lectronic Link); (5) America Online (AOL); and (6)…

Reference service is defined as the mediation by a librarian between the need structures of users and the structures of information resources. The general process by which reference librarians accomplish this is outlined as including the phases of question clarification, question translation, search strategy formulation, search execution, delivery…

Changes in library services due to advancing information technology constitute a revolution comparable to invention of the printing press. Democratization of access to knowledge is a positive development, but it should not be confused with democratization of knowledge. This is where any system of information networking may be misleading; in…

The Statewide Film Library Network developed this procedural appendix for use by staff members of participating libraries so that they could organize their procedures along lines compatible with the system. The general objectives of the manual are to indicate steps in sending and receiving messages within the Network, to suggest methods for the…

Discussion of the rapid growth of information and information sources focuses on the role of librarians in promoting and providing literacy programs. Topics addressed include global views; effects of illiteracy; electronic computer networks; and the need for librarians to become more active, visible, and politically aware. (LRW)

Reports on the current state of reference services on the World Wide Web and explains what a Web-based reference service is. Describes several models of handling requests, and explores the impact of these services on traditional reference services. Concludes that, to date, Web-based services have had little impact on traditional reference…

CORC (Cooperative Online Resource Catalog) is an OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) project developing tools and systems to enable libraries to provide enhanced access to Internet resources. A system for hosting and supporting subject gateways-than a gateway itself- relying on large-scale cooperation among libraries to maintain a centralized…

This article focuses on Obvia Corporation, a New York-based company that offers remote data access (RDA) through a server software system allowing for an easy, controllable, cost-effective management solution to the remote access problem. Using Obvia's RDA service, librarians can focus on administrative and professional decisions and spend more…

Examines file sharing within corporations that use wide-area, distributed file systems. Applications and user interactions strongly suggest that the addition of services typically associated with digital libraries (content-based file location, strongly typed objects, representation of complex relationships between documents, and extrinsic…

INCOLSA, Indiana's statewide library and information network was established in 1995 as the result of a voluntary merger of the state's 10 autonomous, mulitype library services agencies. An evaluation was conducted centered on services appearing under three major goals listed in the 1994 plan: (1) statewide information access and delivery; (2)…

This report describes current documentation and library services provided by the Kingdom of Jordan's Ministry of Information and makes a series of recommendations for the improvement of these services. A summary of the recommendations is followed by descriptions of contemporary Jordan, its government, educational resources, and culture;…

This is a summary of a presentation on the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). The presentation provided information on how the user can gain access to the ERIC microfiche collection at libraries throughout the United States, and to reprints through the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS). Use of the Thesaurus of ERIC…

Presents abstracts of SIG Sessions. Highlights include digital collections; information retrieval methods; public interest/fair use; classification and indexing; electronic publication; funding; globalization; information technology projects; interface design; networking in developing countries; metadata; multilingual databases; networked…

A heterogeneous distributed database systems (HDDS) offers distance education networks feasible, simple, cost-effective, and efficient database access systems. An HDDS can be used to provide information on available courses, course design, registration procedures, hardware and software use and availability, and library resources. (Author/AEF)

Discusses the development of practical strategies for library mediation between Internet resources and potential users. Topics addressed include a hierarchy of information skills; awareness of information services and resources; the information structure of a discipline; analysis of information needs; and retrieval, evaluation, and management of…