Reports on a survey of 25 large research libraries concerning their anticipated use of local systems and bibliographic utilities in 1992. Topics covered include acquisitions, cataloging, database maintenance, record transfer, and authority control. (MES)

Six large academic libraries which belong and contribute cataloging to national online networks were studied. Interviews with catalogers, library administrators, and network quality control personnel showed that nationwide evaluation of catalogers' records creates enhanced status and influence for cataloging peer groups and provides opportunities…

Describes a study that examined the feasibility of automating the process of library collection analysis, using collections in botany and mathematical analysis as the study population and bibliographic utility databases as sources of holdings information. The discussion covers the effectiveness of the methodology and potential uses of the results.…

Discusses the decision by Library of Congress (LC) to include preliminary cataloging records for monographs as part of its tape distribution service. The records' impact on work flow in a research library's cataloging department that uses OCLC is described, and a survey of OCLC/ARL (Association of Research Libraries) members is discussed. (eight…

Examines bibliographic relationships within the context of a global bibliographic database. Results of this research indicate that a core of works of similar character constitute the bibliographic population of American academic and research libraries (OCLC, Online Computer Library Center members). The size of a bibliographic family seems to be…

These five articles are transcripts from a seminar sponsored by OCLC and the Research Libraries Group (RLG) that discussed returning bibliographic data from local systems to the bibliographic utilities. Highlights include problems facing academic research libraries; present and future methodologies of data exchange; workflow concerns; and policy…

Describes online databases available through the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) that focus on research in the humanities. A survey of five databases (AVERY, ESTC, RIPD, SCIPIO, and AMC) is presented that includes contents, search capabilities, and record formats; and future plans are discussed. (12 references) (LRW)

Three papers are compiled here for research library directors: (1) "Background: Open Systems Interconnection," in which David F. Bishop provides fundamental background information to explain the concept of the emerging technology of linked systems and open systems interconnection--i.e., an agreed upon standard set of conventions or rules…

Examines the combined self-interest model used in cooperative collection development discussions in light of social science models of a loosely coupled system. Topics addressed include a history of cooperative collection development; the Research Libraries Group (RLG) Conspectus; and the OCLC/AMIGOS Collection Analysis CD. (27 references) (LRW)

This kit reports on a survey which focused on the methods by which libraries practice online authority control to ensure that names, subjects, and uniform titles are consistently applied and maintained in bibliographic records. Questionnaires were sent to 32 selected member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to determine the…

Reviews major trends affecting traditional interlibrary loan and document delivery, including rising prices, table of contents indexing services, fax technology, the Internet, interlibrary loan subsystems of bibliographic utilities, and integrated library systems with patron-initiated services. Two examples of the development of new document…

Written by a board member of OCLC, this paper discusses critical issues relating to OCLC for the remaining decade of the twentieth century. A brief history of OCLC traces its development and recounts its goals and missions to establish a computerized network to promote the evolution of library use, of libraries themselves, and of librarianship.…

The Association of Research Libraries is fully committed to the principle of unrestricted access to and dissemination of ideas, i.e., member libraries must have unlimited access to the machine-readable bibliographic records which are created by member libraries and maintained in bibliographic utilities. Coordinated collection development programs…

During the spring of 1986, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) surveyed 32 of its members, selected on the basis of their interlibrary loan (ILL) activities and programs, in an effort to gather documents regarding online ILL services and cooperative borrowing/consortium activities. Of the 22 respondents, all conduct at least part of their…

This guide begins by describing the OCLC database, including ways in which it is used by librarians and library patrons; countries reached by OCLC; programs intended to enrich the database, e.g. retrospective conversion projects; cataloging formats (books, serials, sound recordings, musical scores, audiovisual media, maps, archives and…