One of the questions that seems to perplex many university and special librarians is whether to move in the direction of centralizing or decentralizing the library's collections and facilities. Presented is a theoretical approach, employing location theory, to the library centralization-decentralization question. Location theory allows the analyst…

The only paper printed in full in this digest is the Miles Conrad Memorial Lecture given by Dr. Burton W. Adkinson entitled: "After Organization X - What Next?" Dr. Adkinson reviews a national plan for abstracting and indexing services proposed by Robert Heller and Associates in the early sixties, in the light of the current requirements…

The first step in establishing a statewide library network in Minnesota is to seek passage of enabling legislation which would create a single network for all types of state libraries. Membership in the network should be voluntary, and control of budgets, staffs, and collections should remain at the local level. Creation of such statewide networks…

This paper considers estimation of parameters for a model currently being used to study the Illinois Interlibrary Loan Network (ILLINET) and presents a method for determining how much data should be collected and how it should be aggregated. Four classes of model parameters discussed: demands, probabilities of success, processing times, and…

This simplified description of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) includes an interview with OCLC director Fred Kilgour. (PF)

An evaluation of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC) based on visits to the 47 OCLC charter members in Ohio. (PF)

The Ohio Network of American History Research Centers was established to improve preservation of historical resources. The Akron Center provides a good example of the possibilities of individual archival development with limited resources within the context of a regional association. Several outstanding collections are also described. (JAB)

Discusses the development of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Library System from the viewpoint of a field librarian. Coverage includes how and why the system was formed, factors in achieving cooperation from component libraries, and features of the system. (JPF)

Discusses the need for public library/school library cooperation in the development of their respective resources, and the formation of a network of services. Also outlined are elements critical to the success of such a network. (JVP)

Outlines the essential details of a computer network protocol at the application level for interchanging information between host computers in the community of libraries, book publishers, and bibliographic service centers. Control header structure is detailed, and a skeleton outline is given for 20 header field types and 15 control message types.…

An overview of the system begun in 1972 by UNESCO to develop and maintain an international register of serials, facilitate retrieval of scientific, and technical information in serials, and establish a communications network between libraries, publishers and international organizations. (JAB)

A national computer services network simulation model was used in a 3-day gaming exercise involving 16 institutional teams who made decisions about their likely long-term network participation. Participants were able to react to others' decisions and actions, and to critical overriding political, economical, and organizational issues. (CMV)

Humphrey's personal involvements as educator, communicator, and catalyst in national and international developments in information science are presented. Examples include his support of the scientific and technical information program and trips to Europe and the Soviet Union to promote information science advancement. (MBR)

A study of computerized conferencing and its effects on human communication was conducted via an investigation of EIES and its users. A summary of the research findings is followed by a discussion of the ultimate objectives and potential advantages of experimentation with EIES in this area. (MBR)

A library network model is reviewed and a derivation is presented that requires fewer assumptions and allows more robust representations of library networks. (Author)