The COVID-19 pandemic has had limited effects on access to and use of information. In the last few decades, much information has been digitised, if not created and produced, online. Confined in physical space and sitting at a desk (or kitchen table), people are able to connect to the outside world through various applications on a laptop and other…

Since the early 1990s, Carl Malamud has made it his business to return to the public what is rightfully theirs: free access to public information. Despite legislation that mandates such access to government information, some categories of information have been excluded, notable among them court opinions (with the exception of the U.S. Supreme…

In a time when information self-service and enhanced competition have sent libraries of all types into an oftentimes desperate search for a renewed sense of purpose, a fundamentally important question takes center stage: How can libraries connect with the deepest aspirations of their service communities? This article describes a new library…

The Digital Britain White Paper outlines the Government's vision for the digital future of the country. In this article a number of industry experts, stakeholders, politicians and commentators tell how they viewed the report and its likely repercussions.

Discussion of providing access to needed information focuses on five historical schemes that represent speculative approaches to solving the problem of restructuring and mobilizing the content of documents. The collection, analysis, and restructuring of information already available in some other form and the need for an information professional…

The literature on information literacy often assumes that there is an inherent link between the need for information literacy and what is commonly referred to as the information explosion. This assumed link is reflected in programs of information literacy instruction offered by academic libraries. This article argues that the basic concepts of…

"When you start your new job as a school librarian, one of the first steps you must take is to ask to see the district's book selection policy. If there isn't one, write one. Right away. It protects you, the teachers, and the district." That advice was part of the author's school library administration course at the School of Library and…

This paper discusses bibliographic control of knowledge resources on the World Wide Web. The first section sets the context of the inquiry. The second section covers the following topics related to metadata: (1) definitions of metadata, including metadata as tags and as descriptors; (2) metadata on the Web, including general metadata systems,…

Discussion of the future of libraries and librarians focuses on the effects of the information explosion and new technology. The topics considered include the information industry, electronic publishing, and the role of libraries. The importance of professional librarians in determining developments in library services is stressed. (eight…

Describes the role of the information specialist in a corporate information center and discusses the three areas that define this role--collection, access, and service. Advantages and disadvantages of being a corporate information specialist are considered. (one reference) (MES)

Discussion of the right of the U.S. public to know highlights the importance of libraries and librarians in a democracy; the role of libraries in disseminating and providing open and equitable access to information; and obstacles they currently face that are putting both libraries and public's right to know at risk. (MAB)

In providing information services for distance learners, the University of Surrey library found Internet-based services difficult and time consuming. Issues concerning access and copyright put librarians into the position of "fact controllers," deciding what resources could be offered to distance learners to support their studies. (SK)

Discussion of consequences of library automation argues that technology should be used to augment access to information. Online public access catalogs are considered in this context, along with several related issues such as system incompatibility, invasion of privacy, barriers to database access and manipulation, and user fees, which contribute…

A review of the debate within the library profession concerning the changing role of libraries and fee based library services is followed by the presentation and discussion of an economic analysis of library services based on an indifference curve model. This model may be used to justify selected user fees. (CLB)

This paper discusses copyright issues, focusing on changes due to digital technology. Highlights include: problems for copyright posed by digital technologies, i.e., the identification of copyright works and owners, and the enforcement of copyright rights; electronic monitoring of copyright uses to provide rights owners with data on usage; the…