To better understand health information provision in the public library setting, two cooperative library systems that serve primarily rural populations in upstate New York were studied. The central library in one of those systems established a consumer health information center (CHIC) in 1999. In the other system, the central library does not have…

Resource sharing through a consortium of libraries in the Pacific islands is proposed as a practical means of meeting the needs of the Trust Territory for information for social and economic development. Not only is the cost of library materials going up at inflationary rates, but the population in the Trust Territory is becoming more educated,…

ERIC is accessible to educational researchers in Australia through the microfiche collections listed in this directory or through AUSINET (The Australian Information Network) and search services provided by Lockheed and System Development Corporation. The National Library Education Information Service also offers a monthly SDI service from ERIC.…

Reference service is defined as the mediation by a librarian between the need structures of users and the structures of information resources. The general process by which reference librarians accomplish this is outlined as including the phases of question clarification, question translation, search strategy formulation, search execution, delivery…

CORC (Cooperative Online Resource Catalog) is an OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) project developing tools and systems to enable libraries to provide enhanced access to Internet resources. A system for hosting and supporting subject gateways-than a gateway itself- relying on large-scale cooperation among libraries to maintain a centralized…

Selection in a consortial setting is a complex, opportunistic, and often political process requiring an uneasy balance of local needs in conjunction with the group agenda. The issues of the selection and implementation of shared and networked resources, carried out in a comparatively public arena, are discussed. (Author)

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…

INCOLSA, Indiana's statewide library and information network was established in 1995 as the result of a voluntary merger of the state's 10 autonomous, mulitype library services agencies. An evaluation was conducted centered on services appearing under three major goals listed in the 1994 plan: (1) statewide information access and delivery; (2)…

Examines data from the National Center for Educational Statistics to determine whether networking and resource-sharing activities of public libraries have increased libraries' use of Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Results suggest that libraries have significantly increased their borrowing through ILL in recent years. Two tables provide loan statistics.…

Presents a background on the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) partnership with the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) and notes its achievements. Discusses the CIC Center for Library Initiatives; leveraging investments in libraries; maximizing use of information resources; improving delivery of information/library services; the…

Current data on the officers, trustees, and member institutions of the Reference and Research Library Resources (3R's) systems in New York State are provided in this directory. Institutional data contain the names and addresses of member institutions, the name of the librarian or library director, the library's telephone number, and teletype…

This document lists resources for the blind and physically handicapped in National Library Service (NLS) network libraries and machine-lending agencies, arranged alphabetically by state. Within each state, the regional library appears first, followed by subregional libraries (in any) listed alphabetically by city. In several states, two regional…

Examines the degree and extent of bibliographic data of selected electronic journals in national bibliographic utilities and the means to provide access to them at individual libraries. Demonstrates the potential issues of accessibility, as well as the acceptance of this new format of information resources by end users. (AEF)

A free national library service providing recorded and Braille materials to blind and physically handicapped persons is administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. In this directory, NLS network libraries and machine-lending agencies are arranged alphabetically by state. Within…

This issue of "Illinois Libraries" is designed to serve as a general reference tool on services for special populations, with a focus on the blind and physically handicapped. It is organized in three sections: general articles; reports on three Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) funded projects; and listings of resources to…