Examines the roles and structures of several European national lending systems to find useful models for guiding future developments at home and abroad. Highlights include the current scene, growth of union catalogs, patterns of collection use, new bases for measuring performance, and charting a future course. (18 references) (EJS)

Three major electronic developments have had a profound effect over the last 19 years on the interloan operation of a medium-sized public library system in central New York State: the Gaylord Brothers, Inc. Circulation System; the New York State Interlibrary Loan Network; and the OCLC, Inc.-Interlibrary Loan Subsystem. (EJS)

Based on interviews with OCLC staff, network directors, and librarians in member libraries, and related literature review, it is recommended that OCLC take steps to improve statistics it currently makes available and to consider leadership role in helping libraries use microcomputer technology to provide statistics for library management. (27…

Discussion of school library media center automation resulting from network participation provides a brief overview of the literature that mentions automation in conjunction with networks and a review of several model programs in Indiana, New York, and Ohio. Network participation in OCLC is noted. Twenty-three references are included. (EJS)

Outlines general characteristics of the Tasmanian Education Department's Statewide Computer Network (TASNET) and notes five library-oriented databases (bibliographic, resource management package, informational). TASNET as a library network, future plans for development of an integrated information system, and factors promoting apparent success of…

Describes public library reference service which allows patrons to type out search instructions on a computer terminal, review and select references, and receive, by high-speed printer, facsimile copy of selected periodical articles. Development of periodicals center at main county library and use of self-coaching SEARCH HELPER system are…

Evaluation of Tanzanian experiences in developing nationwide public library system under conditions of limited resources and unlimited user demands discusses six principles as basis for alternative strategy: liquidating irrelevant librarianship theories; establishing valid performance measures; adopting cost-effectiveness; giving primacy to…

Describes the Pica Library Automation Network (originally the Project for Integrated Catalogue Automation), which is based on a centralized bibliographic database. Highlights include the Pica conception of library automation, online shared cataloging system, circulation control system, acquisition system, and online Dutch union catalog with…

Quality in library technical services is explored in light of changes produced by automation. Highlights include a definition of quality; new opportunities and shifting priorities; cataloging (fullness of records, heading consistency, accountability, local standards, automated checking); need for new skills (management, staff); and boons of…

The Statewide Library Computer System (LCS) has been an established operational resource-sharing system in Illinois for more than five years. Resource-sharing activities among the 27 participating academic libraries include contributions to OCLC, LCS interlibrary circulation, and access by Illinois Library and Information Network systems. Fifteen…

Discussion of Illinois experiences in library cooperation and computerization (OCLC, Library Computer System, LIBRAS) describes use of library materials, benefits and drawbacks of online networking, experiences at Lake Forest College (Illinois), and six tasks recommended for small academic libraries as preparation for major changes toward…

Discusses the development of interlibrary lending and union catalogs, problems of library resource sharing, the development of resource sharing and interlibrary lending in Maryland, governance and costs of interlibrary lending systems, and the Maryland Interlibrary Organization School Media Project. Twenty-five references are provided. (EJS)

Statistical examination of original cataloging records of Chicago Municipal Reference Library as input into online OCLC union catalog reveals library's cataloging use rate as compared to nationwide average. Previous studies, methodology, and areas of high and low use (year of input, type of record, classification, length of monograph) are…

Describes development of computer terminal used to create and retrieve bibliographic information in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean vernacular scripts and Roman alphabet languages. Involvement of American Council of Learned Societies, Research Libraries Group, and Transtech; problem solving; enhancements to Research Libraries Information Network;…

Explores relationships between holdings data input into an online catalog and the output, including specific housing location, call number, size information, full-piece-specific hierarchy and enumeration, status of piece, and bibliographic or local notes. Record structure for holdings segment of Triangle Research Libraries Network online catalog…