Describes the Alexandria Digital Library, a geolibrary that focuses on geographical locations. Topics include the evolution of the system and interface design; design goals; user communities, including earth scientists, information specialists, and educators; user evaluation methodologies and findings; and future possibilities. (LRW)

Describes a study conducted at the Utah State University library that investigated electronic database awareness and use by 856 administrators and teaching faculty. Responses to a survey revealed the need for greater publicity regarding new electronic acquisitions, training opportunities, and methods of remote access. (Author/LRW)

Argues that a book should not be cherished simply for being a book, if its information is obsolete. Discusses the need to stop treasuring media beyond its utility; offer positive electronic alternatives to print media (rather than fighting technology); and assure that students have access to all the tools of learning. (AEF)

Discusses reasons for developing electronic reserves (i.e., digital collections of library reserve materials), as well as technical and content options, intellectual property issues, and the issue of equitable remuneration for use of intellectual property in electronic reserve, including recent Australian developments. Experiences at the Monash…

Presents a background on the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) partnership with the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and notes its achievements. Discusses the CIC Center for Library Initiatives; leveraging investments in libraries; maximizing use of information resources; improving delivery of information/library services; the…

Discusses new ways of selecting information for digital libraries. Topics include increasing the quantity of information acquired versus item by item selection that is more costly than the value it adds; library-publisher relationships; netLibrary; electronic journals; and the SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition)…

Explores a new Web-based curriculum idea of having students write and publish critical "reviews" of scientific resources. Presents content analyses of 41 source documents and 63 critical reviews published by 11th grade students in a project-based science class. Analyzes two aspects of student-written critical evaluation, organization evaluation…

Describes projects launched in the 1990s (at Duke University and the University of Michigan, for example) that are attempting to digitize images of ancient papyrus collections and to provide indexed electronic access to them. The five largest American projects of this kind have formed a consortium which addresses issues of policy and user…

Provides an overview of library automation and connectivity projects in Texas that are proceeding with awareness of ethnic, economic, and technological diversity. Topics include a statewide electronic library that incorporates government information and Internet access; school library shared resources; academic library resource sharing; multitype…

Analyzes videotapes of people using the Illinois Digital Library system during tests as well as transcripts and audiotapes from the sessions. Identifies how users learn to uncover new features and what assumptions they have about systems. What first appeared to be a random trial-and-error use of the interface was actually structured exploration…

Discusses the increasing demand for digital reference services from government Web sites via email, and describes a partnership between the Government Printing Office and the federal depository library at the University of Illinois at Chicago to create electronic access to the Department of State Foreign Affairs Network (DOSFAN). (Author/LRW)

Discusses the need for cooperative collection development among libraries on a worldwide scale. Considers the relationship between knowledge and power; information needs and telecommunications technologies; economic and political issues; digital libraries; publishing industry; and laws of intellectual property. (LRW)

Discussion of the impact of distance education on academic libraries focuses on marketing aspects. Topics include the rapid expansion of educational computing; the maturing of higher education; the World Wide Web as competitor to academic libraries; business purposes of academic libraries; distance education strategies; servicing market segments;…

Describes changes in services of the United Technologies Corporation Information Network from a traditional library system to a virtual system of World Wide Web sites, a document-delivery unit, telephone and e-mail reference, and desktop technical support to provide remote access. Staff time, security, and licensing issues are addressed.…

As players in the delivery of services and online information, libraries are in the best position to use staff expertise and the technology they have developed to foster community awareness of social, professional and commercial interactions on the internet. Historically, libraries have been progressive institutions, undertaking constant…