Reports results of a survey of authority control/database maintenance librarians in 151 major academic and research libraries in the United States and Canada that investigated the current state of automation change, reactions of technical services staff to changes, and methods used to train staff in the changed technology. List of surveyed…

Presents a series of memos exchanged between the director and the reference librarian of an academic library, which argue whether a South African government publication should be labeled as propaganda. The two librarians debate whether labeling is a form of censorship or a necessary explanation of the nature of the material. (MAB)

Describes a survey of public and academic libraries in Ohio that was conducted to examine the processes used to select and implement integrated library systems. Machine readable records are discussed, the computer environment in libraries is described, and satisfaction with the systems is examined. (eight references) (LRW)

This 1990 survey examined cultural diversity in 30 Association of Research Libraries member libraries in relation to recruitment of librarians, minority internship programs, multicultural services librarians and programs, and collections. Results indicated that research libraries are making increased efforts to create a culturally diverse…

Discussion of the role and status of academic libraries in China focuses on automation efforts. Microcomputer-based applications are described; problems are discussed; and technological advances are considered. It is concluded that CD-ROMs in conjunction with microcomputers should be used in the majority of Chinese academic libraries. (10…

This annotated list of materials dealing with information literacy includes publications on user instruction in academic libraries (140 titles), public libraries (4 titles), school libraries (56 titles), and special libraries (11 titles) and for all levels of users (6 titles). Statistics regarding the numbers of publications are discussed. (LRW)

Explores the benefits and limitations of the World Wide Web in the context of projects taking place at the University of Virginia Library and the university's Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities. A gateway between the Web and PAT, a text retrieval program based on SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language), is described. (Contains…

Describes the latest modifications being made to OASIS, a front-end enhancement to the University of California's MELVYL online union catalog. Highlights include the X Windows interface; multiple database searching to act as an information network; Lisp implementation for flexible data representation; and OASIS commands and features to help…

Discusses networked information resources used by reference librarians in research libraries. Highlights include the NREN (National Research and Education Network); the Internet; network architecture; the national information infrastructure; the effect of electronic information on reference desk transactions; the changing nature of research; the…

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed a collaborative library/information services program of distributed information services. In response to differing conceptions of "prototypes" among the professionals involved, a facility has been made available where developers and researchers can refine new technologies before…

Offers brief, critical reviews of recent scholarly and general works of interest to reference workers in university libraries. Titles covered include dictionaries, databases, religion, literature, music, dance, art and architecture, business, political science, social issues, and history. Brief descriptions of new editions and supplements for…

Presents results of a longitudinal study conducted at the Iowa State University Library that investigated the changes in task times, staffing patterns, and personnel costs for cataloging information expanded. Results show the proportion of time spent at tasks, trends in changes over time, and per title cataloging time and costs. (seven references)…

Describes microcomputer-based networks which have been implemented at Vanderbilt University's library to support technical services workstations that use NOTIS, catalog with OCLC, and transfer OCLC records to the NOTIS database using GTO (Generic Transfer and Overlay). It is noted that the network configurations can serve as models for other…

Two articles discuss Chinese libraries and materials: one reviews the role of bibliographic utilities in the bibliographic control of Chinese language materials in U.S. libraries, and one examines characteristics of administration in academic libraries in China from both historical perspective and current practice. (64 references) (LRW)

Discusses serials-related functions in academic research libraries, considers the operation of a separate serials department versus integration of serials functions within a general technical services department, and describes an analysis of advertisements for serials positions that was conducted to determine the need for serials specialists and…