Development of Illinois Suburban Library System project linking school and public children's library services.

Discusses the need for academic libraries to examine memberships in regional library systems given the presence of other networks and recent advances in communication. Describes results of a survey of academic libraries and regional systems in Ohio which found that continuing education and strong local connections were the main reasons for…

Describes recent research by the authors who received the 1990 American Society for Information Science (ASIS) Research Award. Three main areas of studies are described: (1) evaluation measures, methods, and models; (2) planning and evaluation studies involving individual libraries and library systems; and (3) planning and evaluation of library…

Special libraries abroad and international cooperative efforts are discussed in six articles. Topics covered include the international role of the Special Libraries Association; the Special Library Program of the U.S. Information Agency; the design of special libraries abroad; regional networks that cross international boundaries; and the…

Describes the collection assessment methodology presented in the Research Libraries Group's "Conspectus," and assesses the usefulness of this instrument both in general, and as applied to an attempt to coordinate collection development at the consortium level. (eight references) (CLB)

Discusses the benefits of interpersonal networks to special librarians. Suggestions for pursuing contacts are described, including interdisciplinary connections, professional associations, continuing education and professional development meetings, mentoring, seeking relationships within the parent organization, and setting up individual informal…

Describes AMIGOS--a 330-member library network based in Dallas, Texas--and examines its involvement with CD-ROM technology, including continuing education, product review and brokering, conference presentations, and production of CD-ROM union catalogs. A checklist for choosing a CD-ROM system is appended. (MES)

Provides a description of present and proposed plans and strategies of OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) and their relationship to electronic publishing. FirstSearch (end-user access to secondary information), GUIDON (electronic journals online) and FastDoc (document delivery) are emphasized. (JKP)

Provides a historical overview of library cooperative efforts, the roles identified for the cooperative library organizations and their members, and associated services. Examines the contributions that rural libraries make toward cooperation among all types of libraries and identifies challenges for rural libraries participating in networks in the…

Data were gathered from 419 science and technology libraries and 281 business libraries on their general characteristics, resource-sharing network membership and frequency of use, current and desired network services, problems with networks, and reasons for nonmembership. Results indicated that more science-technology librarians use…

Explores ways in which libraries can enter into partnerships with other libraries, businesses, community agencies, government, and patrons to improve library service. Values and attitudes that are inherent in partnerships are examined, and ways to apply these values to improve partnerships with patrons are suggested. (three references) (LRW)

Describes the design, construction, and implementation of a statewide library Gopher for Virginia that was developed as an Internet navigation tool for users of the Virginia Library and Information Network (VLIN). Highlights include resources for Gopher developers, examples of menus, coverage of locally produced materials, and Virginia information…

Examines the cooperative efforts of the Western Library Network (WLN) and its members to maintain authority control over its central bibliographic database. The first section describes authority maintenance activities performed by WLN centrally, and the second describes the contribution of an individual member library--the Washington State…

Anyone who hires Loft Bell is getting two librarians: one who enthusiastically does the job, and another who develops new ideas, secures grants to fund them, and swiftly puts the ideas into action. There's nothing that makes a job more attractive to Bell than the freedom to try out new things. Jenny Levine, Internet development specialist at…

Although the current focus of library consortia has been their role as buying clubs, technology has opened up other important roles as well. One of these is a radical reassessment of physical resource sharing--increasing the ease, speed, popularity, and cost efficiency of the traditional interlibrary loan function. A case study of patron-initiated…