Reviews the Linked Systems project protocols in the Name Authority Distribution Application and describes the requirements they were designed to meet. A technical evaluation of the protocols in actual operation at OCLC is presented, and suggestions for improved performance are made. (Author/CLB)

A public utility company uses laser wands to read bar-coded labels on furniture and equipment. The system allows an 80 percent savings of the time required to create reports for inventory control. (MLF)

Five librarians considered authorities on quality cataloging in the OCLC Online Union Catalog were interviewed to obtain their views on the current level of quality control in the OCLC database, the responsibilities of OCLC and individual libraries in improving the quality of records, and the consequences of quality control problems. (CLB)

Four intertwined issues in networking--local systems, linking, linking standards, and database ownership--need to be dealt with by bibliographic utilities and librarians, as their members, in the very near future. The resolution of these major issues will significantly affect the future direction of nationwide networking. (Author)

Compares OCLC, WLN, and RLIN in terms of the composition of the databases, indexes and searching, special uses for public services, costs, and documentation. Selected bibliographies of general public service uses and interlibrary loan applications are provided. (CLB)

Reviews developments of online systems in 1986, including available services and databases in several areas, and advances in information storage techniques. The impact of online services on the present and future responsibilities of professional searchers is discussed. (CLB)

Reviews the growth of library networks and bibliographic utilities, and describes the concept of a national bibliographic network. The impact of microcomputers, the increased computer literacy of librarians, preferences for local autonomy, and the availability of commercial online services on the desire for a national system are discussed. (CLB)

Reviews the development of bibliographic utilities and the approaches used by the major utilities to deal with issues of record ownership and use. The possible effects of a copyright claim registered by OCLC in 1984 on local library consortia and member libraries of OCLC affiliated networks are discussed. (35 notes/references) (CLB)

Describes the Linked Systems Protocol, a draft national standard for bibliographic information retrieval aimed at developing an extended protocol for the movement of bibliographic information from one system to another, and its implications for library automation, the individual librarian, and the library user. (CLB)

A study of the energy savings potential in New Zealand schools demonstrates that considerable reductions in energy costs can be achieved through energy management. An initial examination of available 1985 light, heat, and water expenditures for 268 secondary schools (84 percent of the secondary schools in New Zealand) is followed by the selection…

Seven experts in system planning offer their views on how optical disk systems will affect library participation in online networks, and discuss opportunities presented by these new products. (CLB)

Outlines evaluative criteria and compares optical data disk products used in library technical processes, including bibliographic records for cataloging, acquisition databases, and local public access catalogs. An extensive table provides information on specific products, including updates, interfaces, edit screens, installation help, manuals,…

This basic introduction to three types of computer communications that school libraries can use describes bulletin board systems, information utilities, and bibliographic database systems. Examples are given of applications that would be useful for students and teachers. (EM)

This document is a self-paced training packet developed for a pilot project at the University of Houston-University Park to teach architecture faculty members to do their own online searching. The training begins with general topics such as the kinds of searches that can be done most effectively online; the selection of appropriate databases to…

This discussion of possible future applications of machine translation of Asian language materials by library information systems focuses on the current technology, potential users, the necessary standardization of equipment and language representations, an existing information network that provides a database of Asian materials, and available…