Discusses three kinds of metadata--Dublin Core (DC), MARC21 (formerly USMARC), and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)--and how they are used in the Energy & Environmental Information Resources Center (EE-IR Center), a digital special library of text, numeric, and geospatial data in Lafayette, Louisiana. Includes 5 figures. (Contains 48…

Discusses four major trends that have been encouraging the transition to a global digital library: (1) economics of the Internet, including inflation, multimedia, collaboration, timeliness, and scholarly communication; (2) improved service; (3) new digital library technologies, including network technology, data compression, full-text indexing,…

Discusses digital libraries and Web site design issues. Highlights include accessibility issues, including standards, markup languages like HTML and XML, and metadata; building virtual communities; the use of Web portals for customized delivery of information; quality assurance tools, including data mining; and determining user needs, including…

Challenges special-education teachers to be efficient users of the World Wide Web to meet their students' learning needs. Information is provided on finding your way in cyberspace, terminology and accessing online tutorials, browsing (links and navigation), and finding specific information. Educator Web sites are provided. (CR)

Introduces an Electronic Libraries (eLib) project--Electronic Submission and Peer Review (ESPERE), which examines cultural and technical problems of conducting electronic peer review for biomedical academics and learned-society publishers. Describes interviews with seven learned-society publishers, analysis of a questionnaire sent to 200 editorial…

Eight lesson plans using materials developed for the Perseus Project are provided that show how this site may be used in the classroom. The plans also provide models for preparing students to make increasingly sophisticated use of the resources included in Perseus. (Author/VWL)

Describes the extent to which professional activity of library and information professionals is evident in the management of digital collections. Analyzes the digital collections of 11 randomly selected public libraries to determine patterns of professional practice, such as collection development or organization and representation of digital…

Discusses the impact of information technology requirements on the costs of electronic libraries. Addresses key questions concerning hardware, software and network installation and upgrades and provides strategies for dealing with the needs for continuous funding and long-term financing that are essential for keeping up with the requirements of…

Describes the CONTENTdm software used by Washington State University Libraries to enhance its online collection building efforts. Topics include online image collections; software architecture; providing access to collections; integrating CONTENTdm with other imaging products; improving reference; and access for remote users. (LRW)

Presents a model of some of the typical important layers in the design of information systems, and shows how those layers interact in operation. Suggests that these layers are in the way of a cascade of each layer affecting the next. Presents a model of this cascade of interactions in information systems. Provides examples from networked…

Describes the development and implementation of an electronic reserve system at the University of Adelaide (Australia). Discusses the decision to use a Web server strategy; scanning choices for papers; conversion of machine-readable sources; and future possibilities. (Author/LRW)

Reports on an initiative by the Toronto Public Library to create the "Virtual Reference Library" (VRL). Describes the first service to be offered, a Dewey application called "Science Net." Discusses the VRL and its precursor, objectives, basis for its funding, technical aspects, progress to date and future direction. (AEF)

Focuses on self-service, seamless, Web-based libraries--electronic libraries created by information professionals, Meta sites for the 21st Century where users with average Internet skills can find quality Web sites. Discusses content, design, effective implementation, and final evaluation. (AEF)

Reflects on implications of phases one and two in the United Kingdom's Electronic Libraries Program (eLib). Discusses the four components of the third phase which includes the merging of print and electronic resources in the hybrid library. Discusses managerial lessons learned. (AEF)

This academic library book buying survey examines full-text databases; electronic journals; top circulating subjects; price increases for serials and resulting subscription cuts; the influence of digital choices on purchasing decisions; circulation versus use statistics; and electronic books. (LRW)