Describes a task-oriented assessment of two MEDLINE searching systems by medical students, one using Boolean searching on human-indexed thesaurus terms and one using natural language searching on words in the title, abstract, and indexing terms. Highlights include user certainty in answering questions, time needed, and user satisfaction.…

Provides guidelines for automating a school library with limited funds and staff. Includes suggestions for preparation; finding equipment, choosing software, using MARC records, using volunteers for barcoding/loading records, the initial switch to an automated catalog, and continuing expenses and hardware upgrades. A sidebar lists costs for a…

Discusses the Internet's role in colleges and universities. Topics include network development, accessing the library's online catalog; attracting students, electronic student handbooks, coursework information, and program listings, teleconferencing, distance education, independent study and online degrees, electronic field trips, journalism…

Assessed library instruction initiatives with respect to OPACs by surveying 414 academic, public, school, and special libraries. Most participants' libraries have modified library OPAC software; librarians continue to teach use of the online catalog; few systems have built-in tutorials; and few have computer-assisted instruction. (Author/JKP)

Describes new opportunities for consultation and supervision as more schools come online with the Internet. E-mail offers counselors the same kind of advantage that it offers those involved with distance learning education. Advantages and disadvantages are presented and case examples are provided. (JBJ)

Describes considerations involved in implementing an electronic current awareness service in academic and research organizations, including user needs; personal bibliographic software; data sources, including floppy disk databases, CD-ROM, online databases, and library catalogs; staffing; fees; promotion; search profiles; and recordkeeping.…

Discusses a decline in patron requests for librarian-mediated searches of MEDLINE at Yale University's medical library and describes results of a survey that was conducted to determine possible reasons. The influences of miniMEDLINE (an in-house version), online end-user systems, and CD-ROMs outside the library are examined. (five references) (LRW)

Discusses document delivery and the rise in periodical requests in school libraries. Problems with union listing tools, system protocols and procedures, interlibrary loan charges, and copyright procedures are described; cost effectiveness and time efficiency are considered; equitable school library services are discussed; and collection…

Notebook computers of increasing power and portability offer unique advantages to library users. Connecting easily to a campus data network, they are small silent work stations capable of drawing information from a variety of sources. Designers of new library buildings may assume that users in growing numbers will carry these multipurpose…

Provides an overview of developments in bringing affordable interactive multimedia services to homes and businesses. Viewpoints and efforts of leaders in the movement toward an electronic superhighway are described, including cable companies, telephone companies, entertainment, and publishing industries. (EAM)

Describes a computer-literature project for middle school and high school students that was developed through the Fairfield-Westchester Children's Reading Project (CT) to promote online discussions between students and authors. Classroom activities are described, project financing is discussed, and teacher responses that indicate positive effects…

Discussion of the development of periodical collections in college libraries describes strategies for building the collection, including collection use studies, collection development policies, and bibliographic instruction programs. It is suggested that access to the collection be enhanced by improvement of available indexing such as CD-ROM…

Describes the impact of the Illinois State Library's Interlibrary Cooperation Project on school libraries. Interlibrary loan benefits for both students and teachers are discussed; reference backup and consulting services are described; and other advantages, including continuing education opportunities and access to audiovisual materials, are…

Describes the results of a study of academic libraries that was conducted to determine what influences users when choosing an online database to search. Highlights include quality content; intuitive interfaces; convenient access; recommendations from library instruction or instructors; and the availability of full text. (LRW)

In addition to setting out the process by which the International Standard Bibliographic Description for Computer Files [ISBD(CF)] was revised and the policies incorporated in the ISBD for Electronic Resources [ISBD(ER)], a detailed indication is provided of the stipulations of the ISBD(ER). Includes implications for AACR2R. (AEF)