This paper discusses the indexing, collection, and maintenance processes, as well as the retrieval interface, to public digital libraries. The paper begins by briefly surveying both Internet technical report collections and World Wide Web search engines. It goes on to describe a prototype digital library, the New Zealand Digital Library for…

Among information workers, the term "disintermediation" has been used to describe the diminishing role of the intermediary associated with the electronic information environment. IMPEL2 is a JISC-funded e-Lib Project investigating the social, organizational, and cultural impacts of the growing electronic library in United Kingdom higher…

This study reports on faculty response to the Journal STORage project (JSTOR), an online system for accessing digital back archives of core journals in history and economics. Data were collected about general journal use, Internet use, and JSTOR use via a survey administered to 160 historians and economists at the University of Michigan and at…

This paper presents an annotated bibliography of 69 articles published in the 1990s that examine the impact of technology on reference service in public, school, and academic libraries. The paper is organized in the following seven parts, each dealing with a different type of application of technology: (1) "General Change Caused by…

This paper outlines experiences at the University of Queensland Library (UQL) in meeting the challenge of creating an appropriate library and information service to support effective learning. The changing customer base and the changing environments of higher education and libraries are described. Four strategies for extending the role of the…

This report summarizes the current state of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). The introduction covers: an orientation to ETDs; the current situation; benefits of ETDs; key issues, including readiness, publication potential, intellectual property, orientation and training, standards, costs, access, archiving/preservation, and…

This paper describes the use of technology by students and their instructor in a course on multicultural education at Gallaudet University (District of Columbia). In the course, Multicultural Foundations of Education, each technology-based course component is designed to satisfy a specific constructivist learning objective. Students engage in…

Discusses the implementation of Web-based online public access catalogs in academic libraries. Highlights include infrastructure issues, including the server, network issues, and desktop workstation issues; recommended minimal desktop configuration; reference services; staff training; cataloging and access; workflow of acquisition and processing;…

Includes three articles: one reviews top stories from "Library Journal" regarding budget problems, salaries and recruitment, privacy, legal issues, virtual reference, electronic books, distance education, special libraries, and scholarly innovation; one discusses school library issues, including layoffs, Internet concerns, and…

Discussion of electronic library services and information and resource sharing highlights cooperative ventures between Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Computer networks are described, online catalogs are explained, hardware and software are discussed, and future possibilities are…

Three articles discuss the issue of the mediator's role in the library of the electronic age. Topics addressed include computer-assisted instruction; online catalogs; computer networks; professional identity; reference service and bibliographic instruction; CD-ROMs; online systems; personal home microcomputers; Internet and list servers;…

In today's electronic environment, government information librarians face new challenges, especially in the arena of quality public-service provision. Given the lack of clear guidelines that Federal Depository Library Program participants follow, and based upon suggested guidelines of reference-oriented literature, a new set of public services…

Describes the processes developed in the Sandia National Laboratories (a Department of Energy multiprogram national laboratory) Technical Library to provide and improve desktop access to Sandia-generated documents. Discusses procedures for cataloging these electronic reports, including identification of the bibliographic information and MARC tags…

Examines the Amazon.com online bookstore as a blueprint for designing the world's largest library. Topics include selection; accessibility and convenience; quality of Web sites and search tools; personalized service; library collection development, including interlibrary loan; library catalogs and catalog records; a circulation system; costs;…

Examines ways in which information technology developments have changed academic libraries over the last few decades, and speculates about further changes to come. Discusses computerizing library operations; public access; electronic formats, particularly for journal articles; and information networks, including expectations about services,…