This article presents a brief history of the videodisc and describes three major current manifestations of this storage medium--read-only, write-once, erasable. The current status of write-once technology, major corporations involved in the field, potential uses for various types of storage media, and software and market trends are highlighted.…

Reviews the status of photostats and microfilm at the New York Public Library, including evaluations of the demand for each and the relationship between the two forms during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Reasons why the two forms continue to coexist--even though it was predicted that microfilm would replace photostats--are discussed. (24…

Discusses problems in using ASCII for data communications and computers and provides a historical perspective on the development of Unicode, a new universal encoding scheme. The future of Unicode is considered, implications for libraries are discussed, and a sidebar explains how computers store textual data. (LRW)

Traces developments in cooperative preservation in microfilming projects from 1930s to mid-1980s. Participation by the Library of Congress, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Council on Library Resources, National Endowment for the Humanities, American Theological Library Association, Research Libraries Group, and…

Explores the importance of sport history as it reflects the social and cultural history of the United States. Discussion covers the various sport history materials that are available in microform, including the Spalding Collection, twentieth-century microfilm sources, and sports and social history (Sports Periodicals microfilm series). (EJS)

Presents a historical perspective of videodisc technology and technical examination of Optical Disc Corporation's (ODC) LaserVision system, an audio/video communication system which stores composite signals on videodisc. Also discussed are premastering, mastering, and replication steps in videodisc production; videodisc player design and…

Briefly outlines the history of microreproduction devices and media, their changing role in library environments, and the activities of librarians as users of micrographic materials. The current state of the art and prospects for the future are also discussed, and a reference list is included. (JL)

Discusses Paul Otlet's idea of an international center for the storage and dissemination of information called "The Mundaneum." Highlights include the influence of positivism, centralism, and monumentalism on Otlet; the ideas of Georges Bataille; international coordination through a worldwide network; and the role of architectural…

Describes the evolution of computerized information storage and retrieval from its mid-nineteenth century beginnings in theoretical works on logic by George Boole, to the applications of Boole's logic to switching circuits by Claude Shannon in the 1930s, to the development of coordinate indexing by Mortimer Taube in the 1940s and 1950s. (Contains…

Survey of the history and current development of information technology covers hardware (economies of scale, communications technology, magnetic and optical forms of storage), and the evolution of systems software ("tool" software, applications software, and nonprocedural languages). The effect of new computer technologies on human…

Traces origins of the Genealogical Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), highlighting microfilm technology, equipment used, development of the 16mm camera, film processing, quality control, filming techniques, specialized microfilming, archival storage (The Granite Mountain Records Vault), the genealogical library…

Describes the value of defunct newspaper morgues, with a focus on the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State University (New York), and provides the historical background of two Buffalo newspapers. Discusses challenges facing the special collections librarian: storage facilities, requests for information by patrons from all over the world,…

Summarizes the growth of databases, including major milestones, issues, and trends of the past 20 years, during which time the database/online industry had become a large and thriving segment of the information industry. A time line overview of database developments from 1951 to 1985 is appended. (42 references) (EJS)

Reviews the development of technological innovations in information delivery, including microforms, electronic processing, online distribution, full-text abstracts online, floppy disks, downloading, vertical integration, electronic publishing, and optical disks. The impact of technology on the information industry and the need to use technology…

Discusses design, development, and use of a database to provide organization and access to a computer software collection at the University of Hawaii School of Library Studies. Field specifications, samples of report forms, and a description of the physical organization of the software collection are included. (MBR)