The X.500 Directory Service provides a mechanism for finding information about people, organizations, services, network hardware, and more in the global network environment. Issues involved in X.500 participation by an organization include management support, data gathering, rights and concerns of individuals, access control, privacy, accuracy,…

Describes free-nets as free public access community-based computer systems; explains how libraries and librarians participate in the free-net movement; discusses Canadian free-nets; considers the public library/free-net analogy; and provides a survey of library services on Internet-accessible free-nets and civic networks. (Contains four…

Discussion of the protection of intellectual property on the Internet suggests strong regulation of content. Topics addressed include economic losses; access control; encryption; educating the public on copyright law; illegal bulletin board systems; software piracy; copyright infringement; downloading copyrighted material; fair use; and copyright…

Two articles by librarians attending the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) Conference in Moscow in August 1991 report on the attempted coup in the Soviet Union. The lack of locally available information is discussed, and the use of personal computers to access outside information sources is described. (LRW)

Reports on conferences held by federal agencies in 1991 and 1992 that addressed issues of public access to electronic government information. Topics discussed include agency information dissemination programs; public access to federal computers; security controls; and user charges. A working draft policy framework on public access to government…

Discussion of the NREN (National Research and Education Network) and issues of access focuses on the role of the public library. Highlights include current uses of the Internet; resource sharing; guidelines for public library service; availability of the Internet and NREN through public libraries; and a sidebar that lists sources of further…

This issue includes six articles that discuss access to information provided by computerized databases and communications networks for legislators. Highlights include state legislative systems; information systems in the Senate; online services in the House of Representatives; information technology in the Congressional Research Service; the…

The campus data network, WABnet, at Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana) provides students with access to the campus Novell servers, the library catalog, and the Internet. The College attempted to minimize the support load for the Intel-based PCs (personal computers) by developing a self-install procedure for student PC connections. The…

Illustrates an approach for providing networked access to licensed databases over the Internet by positioning the library between patron and vendor. Describes how the gateway systems and database connection servers work and discusses how treatment of security has evolved with the introduction of the World Wide Web. Outlines plans to reimplement…

Discusses use of the MARC format for cataloging Internet resources. The benefits of MARC, importance of integrated information resources, and the guarantee of public access are cited as major reasons for using traditional cataloging and library OPACs. Suggests Internet resource collection criteria and the roles of various groups of people needed…

Discusses the issues involved in reforming the copyright law and redefining fair use as it applies to electronic documents. Highlights include access to and privileges of the Internet, technological development, the evolution of copyright, licenses and fees, the position of publishers and academics, costs, and conditions for creating a stable…

Suggests strategies for finding information in gophers that will increase access to Internet information resources for library users. Highlights include search strategies; veronica searches; jughead searches; keyword lists; Boolean operations; gophers with subject menus; subject guides; listservs; and World-Wide Web. (eight references) (LRW)

Discusses changes in the Internet that allow users easier access to multimedia materials. Topics include the client-server relationship; Internet Protocol; World Wide Web; commercial online services and Web access; Internet publishing; educational collaborations among classrooms, businesses, and research institutions; and examples from Virginia's…

Increasingly, colleges and universities are planning to improve Internet connections to those who tap into campus computer networks over telephone lines. There is concern that users will overwhelm existing computer systems. Currently, many off-campus users are using private information service providers to gain network access. (MSE)

Describes the development of the WAIS (Wide Area Information Servers) protocol, a system that allows users access to personal, corporate, and commercial electronic information from one interface. The availability of WAIS on the Internet and the reactions of users are addressed. Several problems are considered, including funding, hardware…