This paper suggests that libraries are losing market share and can address external threats from competition through unique partnerships and technological innovation. The concepts of competition, technological discontinuities, and innovation are discussed. The following four projects at the Scholarly Communication Center (SCC) of the Rutgers…

In a university environment, the library can benefit from interest in the digital future on the part of other concerned groups. Computer science departments are natural partners in the development of digital libraries. Professional societies, for-profit companies, and foundations are also potential sources of support. Cornell University Library…

Describes a digitization project at the public library in Crawfordsville, Indiana that was designed to preserve their local history collection. Highlights include damage to the collection from fire, termites, use, and age; selecting a scanner and software; creating databases; and making information accessible on the Web. (LRW)

Discusses the Open Source Software method of software development and its relationship to control over information content. Topics include digital library resources; reference services; preservation; the legal and economic status of information; technical standards; access to digital data; control of information use; and copyright and patent laws.…

Includes six articles that focus on practical uses of technologies developed from digital library research in the areas of education and scholarship reflecting the international impact of digital library research initiatives. Includes the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) (Brazil); the National Science Foundation (NSF) (US); the Joint…

Discusses quality issues regarding Web sites and describes research that created an intelligent agent for automated collection development in a digital academic library setting, which uses a predictive model based on facets of each Web page to select scholarly works. Describes the use of bibliomining, or data mining for libraries. (Author/LRW)

In 1996, the Colorado Library Resource Sharing and Information Access Board initiated a project to explore a patron-initiated interlibrary loan (ILL) system utilizing the ACLIN (Access Colorado Library Information Network) infrastructure and interfacing with local catalogs, remote databases, and bibliographic utilities. This report summarizes the…

Discusses the amount of instruction that is part of reference service, based on experiences with the University of New Brunswick's LIVE (Library Information in a Virtual Environment) digital reference service. Concludes that digital reference instruction is not a substitute for more formal library instruction programs that include information…

Outlines the service rationale, software and technology considerations taken by the Pennsylvania State University library in planning towards online, real-time reference services and provides an overview of the planned pilot project. Discusses recent trends in academic electronic libraries, including providing value-added services to support…

Discusses values that are needed by academic libraries as they focus on learning rather than teaching in an increasingly digitized environment. Highlights include making connections to a wide range of information and ideas; and being conducive to offering easy access to library resources, including promoting library collections and services. (LRW)

Five Grand Challenges are proposed for library research: (1) Library service: Could library services be made more meaningful? (2) Library theory: Who knew what when? (3) Library design: Have digital libraries been designed backwards? (4) Library values: How neutral can libraries be? (5) Library communities: How do communities differ? (AEF)

These six articles discuss Web archives and Web analysis building on data warehouses; international efforts at continuous Web archiving; the Open Video Digital Library; electronic journal collections in academic libraries; online education journals; and an electronic library symposium at the University of British Columbia. (LRW)

Includes four articles that discuss multimedia educational database systems and the use of metadata, including repurposing; the evaluation of digital library use that analyzes the retrieval habits of users; the Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL) and digital collection project; and the collection of the Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for…

Discusses current copyright issues, including the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Electronic Learners; Fair Use Guidelines for Electronic Reserve Systems; additions to the "United States Code" regarding copyright; copyright ownership for freelance writers; online material, including e-mail; and public performance versus…

Reviews the history of the University of Michigan's UMLibText project that was designed to provide expanded and/or enhanced access to electronic information resources. Current holdings on the system are described; access and user support are discussed; use data and trends are examined; and future directions are considered. (Contains two…