Describes the replication study undertaken by the British Columbia Union Catalogue (BCUC) to assess three online systems and their potential to meet the technical and economic needs of a number of libraries of all types and sizes in British Columbia. References are provided. (CHC)

Describes how information professionals at the 1997 SCOUG (Southern California Online User Group) conference created a Virtual Library Corporation of librarians to serve a worldwide, digital clientele. Mission statements were developed which included promoting/developing synergistic structures and systems for universal access, promoting…

Discusses problems in Chinese educational reform and trends in professional education. Based on the curriculum of 17 Chinese schools of library and information science, this article provides data on required courses, specialized elective courses, and nonspecialized courses to determine the state-of-the-art structure of the knowledge base and to…

Presents an annotated selection of recent scholarly and general reference works under the subject headings of biography, publishing, religion, popular culture, film and theater, literature, architecture, music, social sciences, archeology, history, and science, as well as new editions and supplements. (LRW)

Discussion of the information needs and information-seeking behavior of interdisciplinary scholars and students focuses on kinds of research needed at both basic and applied levels. Topics include prior research; the organization, description, and indexing of information in libraries for successful information retrieval; and research techniques in…

Describes the results of a survey conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago that compared faculty use of, preferences for, and satisfaction with two software interfaces for the locally loaded ERIC database. Use of other local online databases was also examined. (Author/LRW)

Discusses Virginia Hamilton's accomplishments as a writer and storyteller for young people. Suggests activities related to Hamilton's books, including reading aloud, watching a biographical videotape, displaying her books in the library or classroom, and visiting children's and young adult author web sites. Provides an annotated bibliography of 20…

Describes a study of two-year college faculty teaching credit courses in correctional facilities to determine their opinions regarding scheduling, library services, and availability of computers. Finds that faculty were concerned about difficulties in using library services and scheduling problems due to rigid prison schedules. (15 citations) (KRG)

If the National Information Infrastructure Act of 1995 becomes law, the public will lose important rights to use electronic works in scholarship, teaching, and research. Libraries will find it difficult to make electronic works available to their users if copyright holders begin to implement licensing systems requiring a "pay-for-view…

Presents an account of a research project in rural Malawi that was conducted to help Malawi National Library Service meet the information needs of village communities. The project also examined the chain of communication between providers of information, mainly government agencies; intermediaries who disseminate the information; and ordinary…

World Wide Web "meta sites," or collections of subject-specific hyperlinks, can expedite Internet searching. One can find meta sites by consulting: search engines that offer site ratings or selective retrieval; library-constructed Web sites; Internet-related journals; and subject experts. A compilation of meta sites, with descriptions…

Discussion of the use of CD-ROM databases focuses on a study conducted at Russell Sage College (New York) that examined user attitudes toward CD-ROM technology and shifts in journal usage patterns. Highlights include previous studies, comparisons of print indexes and CD-ROM databases, and suggestions for future research. (LRW)

Argues that democracy is best served by a Federal Depository Library Program that receives information in multiple formats (print, electronic, and microfiche) so that the needs of diverse users for equal opportunity to access government information can be met. Concludes that Congress is seeking to reduce costs at the expense of the public.…

Reports on the results of a survey of 87 library and information science journal editors that investigated manuscript review processes, acceptance rates, and availability of instructions to authors. Topics include the proliferation of journals; assessing the quality of journals; and implications for faculty promotion and tenure decisions. (LRW)

Though the bookmobile has fallen on hard times, the cybermobile, a technology platform combining personal computing, CD-ROMs, fiber network, and wireless access to the Internet, may be the next step in mobile library services. Discusses standard vehicle, computer hardware, software, wireless access, and alliances with users, vendors, and community…