Discusses the availability and quality of commercial reference services available on the World Wide Web such as Ask Jeeves and the decline in library reference service statistics. Describes a project in California to help libraries develop live, real-time reference services over the Web by adapting Web contact center software. (LRW)

Explores the possibility of using Web contact center software to offer reference assistance to remote users. Discusses a project by the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System/Santiago Library System consortium to test contact center software and to develop a virtual reference network. (Author/LRW)

Describes a digitization project at the public library in Crawfordsville, Indiana that was designed to preserve their local history collection. Highlights include damage to the collection from fire, termites, use, and age; selecting a scanner and software; creating databases; and making information accessible on the Web. (LRW)

Discusses quality issues regarding Web sites and describes research that created an intelligent agent for automated collection development in a digital academic library setting, which uses a predictive model based on facets of each Web page to select scholarly works. Describes the use of bibliomining, or data mining for libraries. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the role of intelligent agents in facilitating the seeking and retrieval of information in Web-based library environments. Highlights include an overview of agents; current applications in library domains; an agent-based model for libraries; the design of interface agents; and implications for library policy and digital collections.…

Discussion of library digital reference services focuses on the features of instant messaging reference systems and the in-house development of a system that incorporates them at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Summarizes and evaluates library chat system features and compares commercial software that is available. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the availability of full-text periodical archives on the World Wide Web. Highlights include digitized photographs and other images, in addition to text, costs, the use of search engines, and a list of Web sites. (LRW)

Describes the Lippincott Library (Warton School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) online chat reference service for students/faculty/staff to ask questions through chat and get an immediate response using a commercial service provided by LivePerson. LivePerson is a real-time text interface between the user who seeks information and the operator…

Explores a new Web-based curriculum idea of having students write and publish critical "reviews" of scientific resources. Presents content analyses of 41 source documents and 63 critical reviews published by 11th grade students in a project-based science class. Analyzes two aspects of student-written critical evaluation, organization evaluation…

Describes experiences in providing real-time online reference services to users with remote Web access at the Bowling Green State University library. Discusses the decision making process first used to select HumanClick software to communicate via chat; and the selection of a fee-based customer service product, Virtual Reference Desk. (LRW)

Discusses changes in distance education and considers the resulting need for new types of library services. Topics include new Web-based contact center software; how to conduct virtual reference interviews; online reference service; the role of the physical library; staffing changes; and future possibilities, including impacts on costs of library…

Discussion of public libraries, the Internet, and the World Wide Web focuses on development of a Web site in Washington. Highlights include access to the Internet through online public access catalogs; partnerships between various types of libraries; hardware and software; HTML training; content design; graphics design; marketing; evaluation; and…

Identifies elements that are important for academic libraries to use in evaluating electronic books, including content; acquisition and collection development; software and hardware standards and protocols; digital rights management; access; archiving; privacy; the market and pricing; and enhancements and ideal features. Describes netLibrary, a…

Theses five reports address five special issues: the effects of the September 11 attacks on information management, including homeland security, Web site information removal, scientific and technical information, and privacy concerns; federal policy for electronic government information; digital rights management and libraries; library Web portal…

This proceedings contains 80 full papers, 12 posters/demonstrations, 108 short papers, one panel, and one tutorial, all focusing on World Wide Web applications. Topics include: designing hypertext navigation tools; Web site design; distance education via the Web; instructional design; the world-wide market and censorship on the Web; customer…