A study of computer facilities in British libraries highlighted the respective benefits and disadvantages of using the parent institution's central computer or using a dedicated minicomputer. The large computer's technical advantages include greater opportunities for sharing or buying operational software, and the availability of experienced…

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) had its beginnings in the Library of the Army Surgeon General's office established in 1836. Dr. John Shaw Billings, who was in charge from 1865 to 1895, greatly influenced the growth of the library and also initiated production of the widely used "Index Catalogue" of author and subject listings as…

A short history of the Library of Congress since its establishment in 1800 is traced in the introduction, which also contains a brief narrative overview of the year's activities including special services, a Bicentennial program, exhibits, publications, appropriations, copyright, and automation. Separate chapters are devoted to the activities and…

An overview is provided of the 170 special libraries in Canada which contain collections on economics and finance. General geographic distribution is noted, and then attention is given separately to the numbers, status, and development of economic libraries in various sectors: universities and community colleges, public libraries, corporations,…

The evolution and current operation of the National Library of Australia are described. Included is information on the library's collections (book, film, and pictorial), union catalogs, bibliographical services, publications, technical processes, and special services. Comments on Australian interests and activities in foreign countries are also…

The research activities of Project Intrex are directed toward the extension of man's intellectual reach by a new kind of control over access to information. Ways are sought to improve the efficiency of catalog search by utilization of interactive computing techniques, and to provide rapid access to full-text displays by utilizing microfilm storage…

A description of computer procedures applied to an emerging university's book purchasing program is presented. The analysis includes a description of the system applied, the software employed, the precataloging routines involved, and both a preliminary cost analysis and current costs. Internal flow charting is included for both the in-library…

The second draft of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) report proposes a national program to offer the most information service to the greatest number of people. Current status and problems in all kinds of libraries are reviewed, including: distribution of resources; uneven access to information; the influence of…

The purpose of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) computerized regional library system is to provide an on-line system that makes available to faculty and students in individual colleges and universities the library resources throughout a region, while at the same time decelerating the rate of per-student library costs. The research and…

The use of microforms in academic environments has become a general source of concern to all those involved with it. To some extent, the issues underlying the concerns of these groups can be summarized as a question: How can an academic library achieve full benefit from microform media? To develop information and to probe the difficulties of…

The developing role of the library as a center for cultural activity was the principal subject of discussion at the sixth Anglo-Scandinavian Library Conference. Aspects of this growing function which were treated in participants' papers included: the spectrum of activities which is encompassed by the word "cultural"; the library's role…

Describes the evolution of the library control system at the Ohio State University library from a circulation control system to a full online catalog with subject access and authority control. The needs of users which prompted the development and possible future enhancements are discussed. (CLB)

Describes an investigation of the differences between the levels of the independent variables of gender, college level, previous computer experience, and familiarity with computer keyboarding on college students' attitudes toward the usefulness of a library computer system. Based on the results, some recommendations are made for practice and…

Describes use of computer software to improve staff preparedness for emergencies that may strike the library. Highlights include the Emergency Information System (EIS), which uses integrated emergency management databases with computer graphic maps of the surrounding area and floor plans of the library. Non-emergency applications of the software…

Describes statewide use of MITINET, a microcomputer automation system created to aid resource sharing among small libraries and serve as tool for converting card catalog information to MARC format computer-readable files. Highlights include conversion stages, entering data on microfiche, vendor's role, local level, costs and system requirements,…