Introduces the nine papers in a special issue focusing on progress toward digital libraries. Articles fall into three categories: history and activities about digital libraries (DL); understanding digital library users; and extending and integrating through digital libraries. (AEF)

In the basement of the Waupaca Area Public Library, the Best Cellar is a separate room for young adults that allows teens the freedom to laugh, talk, snack, and listen to music without disturbing others. The furniture, collection, young adult population and community, hours of operation, staffing, planning, youth participation, and librarian and…

Profiles cooperative projects developed at elementary schools in the Miami-Dade County Library Power Grant. Discusses the librarian/teacher collaborative planning process. Describes the PEACE (Plan for Excellence in a Collaborative Environment) project which revolves around a multi-leveled, pyramid design for collaborative planning. (AEF)

Users Council has proven itself to be a critically important element in the Online Computer Library Center's (OCLC) organizational structure. In fulfilling its combined roles, Users Council has provided a national forum for articulating member library interests to OCLC as well as a training ground for preparing individuals with library expertise…

Summarizes and analyzes literature from the 1980s and 1990s that addressed library issues in Botswana. Focuses on literature that discussed the role of the library education program at the University of Botswana, and the use of African versus Western models in developing libraries and information centers to meet patron information needs. (JMV)

The Perseus Digital Library (PDL), under continuous development since 1987, is one of the primary digital resources for the humanities. A summary of the PDL genesis and current status is given and the multifaceted and longitudinal evaluation effort is described. A brief synthesis of results is provided and reflections on the evaluation along with…

Discusses the challenges facing digital library evaluation and suggests a conceptual framework for evaluation derived from the systems approach. A review of evaluation efforts in research and practice concentrates on derivation of criteria used in evaluation. Essential requirements for evaluation are stated. Discussed are constructs, context, and…

Discusses core beliefs held by traditional academic libraries, and how these beliefs represented something of value for the user and provided a common intellectual framework. Identifies disturbing trends in modern librarianship, and suggests libraries need to balance technological knowledge with a respect for traditional library practice, focusing…

Describes various infoshops across the United States: these centers offer alternative materials; are collaboratively run and staffed by volunteers; are typically founded/run by young people; and often serve as venues for concerts, screenings, and political discussions. Suggests libraries might take inspiration from infoshops, and serve coffee,…

Summarizes the Richmond Public Library's (RPL's) experiences in development and provision of technology-based services. Describes RPL's approaches to technology-based services, including training, communicating benefits to the community, creating a community-based Web site and marketing. Explains benefits of Internet-based services to patrons,…

Discusses the National Science Foundation (NSF)/United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)/National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) Research in Digital Libraries Initiative (DLI). Highlights include benefits of digital libraries; the Federal High Performance Computing and Communications Program (HPCC); and program…

Reports on the redesign of Pima Community College's (PCC) West Campus library/student center. States that the college made the redesign a participatory process, developing a master plan through a series of intensive multiple-day workshops that included faculty members, staff, students, and community members. Concludes that consistent participation…

The shortage of school library media specialists (SLMSs) has accentuated the need for establishing and promoting mentoring programs in K-12 schools. Mentoring programs for SLMSs in two large urban school systems are addressing the needs of new SLMSs. Sample orientation/mentoring program activities are given. (AEF)

School library media specialists (SLMSs) in the Rochester (Michigan) Community Schools decided it was crucial to come to a consensus about key roles of SLMSs in successful school library media programs. They identified the following roles: information specialist, instructional partner, and program administrator. To educate administrators, staff…

As technology is shaping today's art world, parallel changes are happening in the ways art book collections are identified and acquired. The purpose of this article is to identify the changes transpiring in the worlds of the artist and library acquisitions, and to evaluate the ways in which the changes effected by technological applications in the…