Provides background information on the American Genealogical Lending Library, and describes the library's microfilming and lending policies. (MES)

Discusses the concept of a paperless society and the current situation in library automation. Various applications of automation and telecommunications are addressed, and future library automation is considered. Automation at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana, is described as an example. (MES)

Reviews the use and validity of numerical measures of library service (index numbers) and describes a study of public library systems from 1970-80 in Wisconsin. This study used an index number based on circulation per capita, expenditures per capita, turnover rate, full-time employee rate, and population, and tested this measure against various…

Discusses the goals, attitudes, and methods of reference teaching, focusing on some of the difficulties for the reference instructor. Teaching of the reference method, rather than facts, and a liberal concept of reference work are encouraged. (three references) (MES)

Discusses the historical foundations of memory and knowledge systems in sixteenth-century Europe and offers insights into the current situation and where our knowledge systems are bound. The development of hypersystems and a new approach to research librarianship are considered. (13 references) (MES)

Discussion of the concept of service and its significance for library reference work focuses on attitudes and qualities important to good service. The changing nature of reference resulting from technological developments and the appropriateness of these values for modern day reference work are then addressed. (13 references) (MES)

Describes reference materials that may be useful in finding legal cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Case citations and case names are explained, finding a case on a particular topic is addressed, and sources for finding a major Surpeme Court case by case name or topic are given. (LRW)

Explains the origins of technology assessment and defines the term. The method is discussed in general and with particular attention to use of the Delphi technique as a data-gathering tool for technology assessment studies. The method is suggested for considering the likely impacts of new information technologies on library and information…

This guide lists more than 5,000 library-related computer services, resources, and supplies in the following sections: (1) products and services, including hardware and supplies, software, and services; (2) vendor products/services; (3) product names; (4) vendor addresses; and (5) consultant addresses. (MES)

Describes microcomputer-based digital video technology and compares it to analog video. Topics discussed include converting analog video to digital data; digital image compression technology; digital compression and digital video on Macintosh computers; and potential library and information-related applications, including electronic publishing and…

Argues that the key reason for using the services of a library automation consultant is to obtain expertise not available in the library staff, and that the library must continuously evaluate the consulting process and provide feedback to the consultant. Related insights and perspectives of both librarians and library system vendors are provided.…

Describes a visiting information consultant program in a corporate library that was developed to provide library services to more clients, increase library visibility, and to provide new and convenient outreach library services and information to users. The initial pilot program is discussed as are observations that were incorporated into the…

Discusses digital libraries, interoperability, and interfaces to access them, and proposes one universal protocol for communication for simple archives based on the hypertext transfer protocol (http). Describes the creation of a special class of digital objects called buckets, archives based on a NASA collection, and a set of digital library…

Describes the MyLibrary concept of personalization or customization of library user Web pages. Discusses benefits for libraries and patrons, as well as technical issues to consider. Highlights personalization projects at Cornell and UCLA. A sidebar gives a list of online sources. (AEF)

Describes a study that replicated two earlier studies to determine whether environmental factors of reference departments and behavioral characteristics of references staff members had changed over the past ten years. Results emphasize the need for more and better education and training in conducting reference interviews and providing client…