Describes linkages, i.e., the telecommunications systems which permit the transfer of information over distances and serve as a link between different electronic technologies. Basic telecommunications technology is reviewed, the regulation of telecommunications is discussed, and low, high, and medium technology applications in libraries are…

Rising periodical prices and lagging library budgets have many academics hoping that scholarly print journals will migrate to online versions. Examines economic factors shaping the electronic journal market, emerging new electronic journals, access versus ownership, consortial purchasing, self-maintained infrastructures, elimination of tenure and…

Offers online resource information for librarians interested in technology competency lists. Provides information that translates to all job areas in the library environment. (Contains 28 resources.) (NB)

A report on the mail students of various test performance, self-reported grades, and academic interest received from colleges in 1983 was compared with the mail received by the daughter of the researcher in 1989. The vast majority of mail represents independent higher education; the public sector is conspicuously absent. (MLW)

Issues relating to subject control in online catalogs are addressed in 15 articles. Practical topics such as the importance of public service/technical service communication in subject cataloging are interspersed with such research issues as the promise of artificial intelligence in improving subject retrieval. An overview bibliography of subject…

Provides some basic guidelines for converting a card catalog to a computerized catalog in school libraries. The advantages of using the MARC format are discussed, and three conversion methods (on site, records created by the vendor off site, and full vendor conversion off site) are compared in terms of the work involved, costs, and time. (CLB)

Surveys the current state of computer applications in six areas of library work: circulation control; descriptive cataloging; catalog maintenance and production; reference services; acquisitions; and serials control. Motives for automation are discussed, and examples of representative vendors, products, and services are given. (15 references) (LRW)

This review of regional cooperation and coordination of information systems in the Caribbean focuses on English speaking countries. The discussion includes an assessment of areas such as cataloging and bibliographic control; the development of national and sectoral information systems; library acquisitions; interlending; and international norms…

Summarizes the results of an informal survey of fourth grade students that examined the criteria by which they select books for relaxed reading and report information, and how they use library catalog information. A need for flexibility in cataloging systems to meet children's information retrieval needs is indicated. (10 references) (CLB)

Each of three articles describes an academic library's online catalog that includes locally created databases. Topics covered include database and software selection; systems design and development; database producer negotiations; problems encountered during implementation; database loading; training and documentation; and future plans. (CLB)

Discusses three electronic information formats: CD-ROM, tape loads, and online hosts; reviews some of the hardware platforms used for accessing information in these formats; and discusses some of the issues involved in interconnecting computer systems to increase access to electronic collections. (Author)

Discusses information development in Portugal since the early 1980s. Topics include public libraries; the national bibliographic database; training; software; access to online databases; CD-ROMs; and Portuguese participation in information projects of the European Community. (AEF)

User-centered design of catalog records requires the study of user behaviors and cognition related to interaction with the catalog. During 3 phases of a pilot study, 103 catalog users described 386 searches; searchers generally knew the title, publication date, page numbers, and/or the author. (Author/AEF)

A computerized presentation explaining how to use the library online catalog (NOTIS) was produced at Texas A&M University. A study using students in first-year composition courses verified that students who viewed the presentation were able to use the online catalog more effectively than those who did not, especially for subject searching. (12…

Describes how a public library consortium jettisoned the Request for Proposal (RFP) process and used library staff, with some assistance from consultants, to evaluate new automation systems based on software demonstrations and Requests for Quotations (RFQ). The RFQ and RFP processes are compared. A sidebar article describes the financing plan.…