Includes seven articles that report on the 1991 library director's conference sponsored by VTLS Inc. Highlights include linking multimedia digital libraries; NREN (National Research and Education Network) and CNI (Coalition for Networked Information); the role of NCLIS (National Commission on Libraries and Information Sciences): library…

Describes Virginia Tech's participation in the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) Assessing the Academic Networked Environment Project to field test measures of the impact of networks and networked information resources on higher education institutions. Topics include student surveys, library surveys, administrative information services,…

Describes the development of the Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS) by the Library of Congress and partner libraries that provides professional reference service to users through an international digital network of libraries. Discusses the benefits of searching library collections rather than just Internet sources and considers future…

Discusses electronic serials that are available on noncommercial international computer networks such as BITNET and Internet. Issues affecting libraries are discussed, including access and ownership; computer conferences are considered; examples of electronic newsletters and electronic journals are described; and the possible future of electronic…

Describes the design of a customized online service at the Lister Hill Library (Alabama) that used a dial-in modem system to provide remote access to medical research materials. Problems with hardware and software incompatibility are discussed, user training is described, and the successful results are reviewed. (LRW)

Summaries of presentations made at the Technology at the Library of Congress conference held in May 1986 describe new technologies that the library is applying to its programs and services, including advances in bibliographic control; automated acquisitions systems; computer-to-computer communications; linking of national bibliographic utilities;…

Considers the need for staff training in virtual libraries. Highlights include instruction and training, including in-house training, vendor contracts, and self-paced instruction; documentation; current awareness via professional literature, electronic discussions, bibliographies, and conferences; information filtering through selective…

Discusses changes in the role of collection development staff based upon emerging library networking technologies. Addresses the role of library collections, book selection theories, and networked electronic resources in library collection development. Presents eight ways networked resources will change the procedures of library collection…

Presents a holistic view of the management of licensed, networked information resources in a university library. Highlights include licensing and copyrights; collection development and acquisitions; aggregators, which combine electronic resources from disparate suppliers or locations into larger resource units for users; consortia; managing…

Describes an integrated online library system developed at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) which incorporates a number of database management features that enhance efficiency, for record retrieval and display. Design features related to record storage and retrieval and the design of linked files are described in detail.…

Examines three topics related to electronic publishing and distribution: the national context, including NREN (National Education and Research Network); issues of market readiness, funding, delivery standards, access software, intellectual property concerns, and pricing and licensing models that must be resolved; and descriptions of seven services…

Fundamental changes in the economic structure of library and information services are forcing a reexamination of values and policies. Technological advances are shifting the debate from "fee or free" services to broader issues; and changes in the way information is created, valued, and distributed are changing public- and private-sector…

Describes a pilot project at the Colorado State University library that provided reserve materials electronically through microcomputers via a campus computer network at no cost to students. Topics discussed include programming; user-friendly menus for software; results of students' and professors' evaluations; copyright issues; and possible…

Explores the impact of electronic networking on social evolution, new notions of literacy, and social equity. Strategies to develop the Internet/NREN as a vehicle for reconnecting segments of society and promoting a network-literate population are needed. The role of libraries and the educational community in accomplishing these objectives must be…