The technology of the 21st century has had no shortage of challenges for libraries, but it has also brought opportunities. Operating systems, databases, and application environments that can use cheap off-the-shelf hardware to scale and handle hundreds of millions of transactions were not developed for libraries. However, libraries have taken…

It seems, at times, that a frantic race persists to ensure that a child, in the crucial learning stages of early elementary education, acquires the appropriate reading level before he or she "gets behind." Though there are obvious issues with branding a book "Grade Level One" or "Reading Level 2.2," it is nevertheless…

Discusses cataloging problems in public libraries--Library of Congress records, international standards, and cataloging records--and their possible effects on establishing public library networks. A model public library bibliographic network is presented. (KP)

In Ontario, a library network is emerging, made possible by a group of technically innovative specialists at the University of Toronto, and exploited by others in expectation of the common good of their patrons. (Author)

This report proposes a program for establishing a single acquisitions--cataloging center and a network of physical preparation facilities for New York's public libraries. Part A describes a proposed pilot project to be implemented before the establishment of the total program. Part B is a discussion of various aspects of the centralized processing…

The computer and telecommunications services of the Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET) are specified in this introduction to the Network. Since members of SOLINET may participate in the services of the Ohio College Library Center (OCLC), a description of these services is included. Membership requirements, fees and dues, and charges to SOLINET…

To determine the need for additional bibliographic resources in the libraries of British Columbia, Canada, an evaluation was undertaken which included visits to libraries and existing operational catalog support systems, and meetings with advisory committees. Recommendations included: (1) implementation of a province-wide, on-line catalog system;…

This study of resource sharing among public libraries was made possible by six library systems in northern Illinois. With the organization of the library systems and development of interlibrary loan services and other cooperative activities, the problem of extending resource sharing among member libraries and between library systems arose. Several…

THIS SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE--(1) THE OPTIMUM NUMBER OF PROCESSING CENTERS FOR THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY SYSTEMS AND (2) THE BEST METHOD FOR DEVELOPING CATALOGS FOR THE LIBRARIES. MAJOR FINDINGS WERE--THAT CATALOGING DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SYSTEMS WERE NOT GREAT, THERE WAS A CURVILINEAR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NUMBER OF ITEMS PROCESSED…

The conclusions of this report are (1) that elementary and secondary public and private school libraries in New York would benefit greatly from a centralized book processing and cataloging center and (2) that school library centralized processing should be coordina"ed with either the public libraries or the university libraries in the state.…

Faced with task duplication in its public branch libraries, the Library Council of Victoria, Australia, undertook a feasibility study called Technilib to determine whether a central cataloging and processing bureau should be established. Consultants considered the practicality and expense of introducing a centralized cataloging service using the…

A cost/benefit analysis of the Public Library Automation Network (PLAN) project was undertaken to evaluate those areas in library technical processing impacted by BALLOTS: searching the data base for catalog copy; cataloging with MARC or original catalog copy input by participating libraries; data entry of original records and modification of…

Based on a year of inquiry and consultation, this report of the Suburban Maryland Project confirms the feasibility of cooperative technical service functions for the four public library systems of suburban Maryland. It is recommended that the proposed Library Service Center be assigned the ordering, acquisition, cataloging, preparation for book…

This report describes the development of the Forest Trail Library Consortium (FTLC), a network of academic, public, and school libraries in Texas. The growth of FTLC from 4 charter members to its current 16 members is traced, including details about goals and funding. The role of special interest groups (SIGs) is examined, and the goals and…

Cost estimates provided by cataloging vendors during January 1981 are analyzed to identify the costs of catalog conversion options and alternatives to the card catalog for six Minnesota regional library systems. Following an executive summary of the study is a discussion of its background, scope, objectives, data gathering methodology, and…