College and university libraries can work together to enhance library access and share resources, but there are problems inherent in such alliances. Existing library consortia illustrate some important considerations in forging a new library consortium, including complexity of organizational processes, funding issues, technology for sharing both…

Explains that two-year colleges and their learning-resources programs use national standards in a variety of ways. Looks into the actual use of national standards in two-year colleges, breaking the data down by rural, suburban, and urban areas, and further by FTE and single and multicampus institutions. (VWC)

Using a case study approach that compares original and reprint articles from two newspapers, this article examines the consequences of not integrating media literacy skills into reference service. Librarians should be aware of the issues involved in how the print media selects and presents daily news. Figures 1-6 graph word count differences.…

This annual compilation is designed as a resource for access to products (hardware and software) and services related to library automation and information storage. Sections include products and services by category, vendor, and brand name, as well as addresses (including phone/fax, e-mail, and URL for web pages) of companies and consultants. (AEF)

Reviews efforts by the Arabian Gulf Region (21 countries) to develop the ARABMARC exchange format for cataloging non-Roman scripts. Provides details of the availability of the Arabic script support in various automated systems in operation in the Gulf Region. Presents a critical review of the Arabic script support on the Research Libraries…

Relates how scholarly publishing in Western Europe feeds into North America. Discusses globalization, regionalism, and particularism; new models and research methodology; Biblio-Darwinism (survival of the fittest publishing languages) and the language of the imprint; differing academic infrastructures of Europe; booming scholarly-title production;…

Includes 11 papers that summarize the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS) conference. Highlights include publishers and digital object identifiers; metadata; digital libraries; strategic implications for scholarly publishing; users and information use; federal and international programs; Dialog services; European…

Describes the development of INFOhio, a state-wide effort that is tying together Ohio's public and private school libraries in an online network. Highlights include electronic resources; training for librarians and teachers; a union catalog; choice of vendors; and the need for further funding. (LRW)

Examines both the current state of scholarly communication and its future prospects. Topics include the relationship between author, publisher, and librarian; ownership of published material; traditional role of the library in scholarly communication; fair use; new paradigms with electronic publishing; and libraries as scholarly communication…

Describes a new children's television series on PBS that was developed to teach literacy by emphasizing reading and writing. Topics include the multimedia approach; and curriculum priorities, including showing benefits of access to print materials, the value of learning to read and write, and introducing new vocabulary words. (LRW)

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…

A study of attitudes about reviews of children's books found that librarians and teachers wanted stereotypes pointed out because children should have accurate information about other cultures. However, a book reviewer's experience suggests that editors may reject reviewers' objections and advocate for authors' freedom of speech, even when…

Provides a profile of Paul Robert Wendt who was interested in using technology to teach students how to succeed in higher education by improving library and information skills. Highlights include his educational background; work in films; teaching in higher education at Southern Illinois University (SIU); work in programmed instruction and visual…

Describes the University of Exeter (UK), Mondex, and NatWest UK smartcard-based campus card system project. Smartcards, wallet-sized plastic cards with microprocessors, interface with network terminal devices and are programmable as data, identity, and finance cards. International standard multiple operating system (MULTOS) increases current…

Presents lessons learned in four years of renovating school libraries in Cleveland, Ohio: build a team, fund raising, design tips (layout, furniture, color, windows, floors, theme), bargain hunting, staff recruiting, and timelines. With a small amount of money, volunteers, imagination, and hard work any library media center can be transformed into…