Sketches history, design, and future plans of VUBIS (joint development of VUB--Vrije Universiteit Brussel/Free University of Brussels, and IS--Interactive Systems, Inc.), an online, user-friendly, public access library system for a European academic library. Search capabilities, cataloging subsystem, and software are discussed. Thirteen references…

From an organizational approach to virtual or digital libraries (V/DL), this study places V/DL in the context of the academic library, focusing on relevant opinions of library heads. Findings suggest that the library heads typically understand V/DL as digital materials, are mainly supportive of V/DL understood in this way, and demonstrate the…

The collection and services of the Alexandria Digital Library (ADL) at the University of California Santa Barbara focus on geospatial information sources with links to geographic locations. Evaluation studies conducted within the ADL project are described as well as what was learned about user characteristics and reactions to ADL. (Author/AEF)

Fifteen articles cover issues related to academic libraries in Illinois, including the library of the future, expert systems, information brokers, impacts of technology on reference services, bibliographic instruction, training, shared authority control, needs of minority students, professional associations, library cooperation, and interlibrary…

Reports results of a content analysis that was conducted to determine the coverage of issues relating to academic libraries in the "Chronicle of Higher Education." Topics discussed include automation; presidential libraries; special collections; copyright; federal legislation; and a bias toward the Washington, D.C., area and toward large…

Discussion of the activities of academic libraries focuses on a survey of 27 English-speaking West African university libraries. The effects of technology are discussed, activities in West African university libraries are compared with activities in other African countries, and implications for West African librarians are suggested. (12…

This article describes some of the potential inhibitors of the transformation of libraries by digital technologies and some steps that universities can take to overcome them. Included is information about the formation of a national coalition by the Association of Research Libraries, CAUSE, and EDUCOM--the Coalition for Networked Information.…

Reviews concerns of scholars and librarians in the area of electronic information. The function and importance of integrated scholarly information systems are discussed with examples of ways scholars are likely to acquire and integrate electronic information in the future. The impact of electronic research systems on the nature of academic…

Proposes that academic librarians and publishers should view themselves as partners rather than adversaries. Following a discussion of premises, problems, and attitudes related to librarian-publisher cooperation, several areas for joint development are suggested: new products and services; CD-ROM; electronic document delivery; scholarly book…

Describes the development of a machine readable reference information file at the University of California at Los Angeles. The discussion covers factors affecting the database structure, the use of a sophisticated text management system to enter data onto microcomputers, and possible future implementations of the reference information system. (16…

Discusses the need for emerging information technologies to be integrated into the Nigerian academic library environment for the improvement of existing systems and services, and the threat to the role of the academic library if new technologies are not embraced by the year 2000. (15 references) (CLB)

Describes a survey of academic libraries that investigated the cataloging backlog of music materials. Pertinent literature is reviewed; reasons for backlogs are discussed, including large acquisitions and gifts without a corresponding increase in staff to process them; a lack of knowledgeable staff; and the impact of other library automation…

Discussion of electronic versions of maps focuses on TIGER files (i.e., electronic maps distributed by the U.S. Bureau of the Census) and their manipulation using geographic information system (GIS) technology. Topics addressed include applications of GIS software, projects to improve access to TIGER files, and the role of GIS in libraries. (MES)

The first of two articles on MELVYL, the University of California's online library system, discusses the next generation of public access information retrieval systems for research libraries based on lessons learned from 10 years of MELVYL. The second article considers MELVYL in the larger context of the University of California's information…

Special section includes two articles on academic library collection management: "Current Awareness: Acquisitions to Endusers" (Michael Lonardo and Dianne Taylor-Harding) describes methods for announcing recent library acquisitions to faculty; and "Book Acquisitions: A Purchasing System" (Ting Zheng and Joyce Huang) explains a…