Describes a Web-based information service, Northern Light, which demonstrates a new paradigm for serving large populations of users and delivering high-quality content on topics both general and narrow. Discusses performance of the search engine, search syntax, Northern Light's special collection, and pricing. (AEF)

Describes how information professionals at the 1997 SCOUG (Southern California Online User Group) conference created a Virtual Library Corporation of librarians to serve a worldwide, digital clientele. Mission statements were developed which included promoting/developing synergistic structures and systems for universal access, promoting…

Presents a brief background on the information revolution. Discusses universal access and the National Information Infrastructure; the constrained view of Internet providers who oppose centralization, government regulation, limitation of individual rights, and commercialism; technology use in a democratic society; effectiveness of…

To prevent further erosion of their monographs budget and to allow for a modest number of new serial subscriptions to support changing curricular and research needs, librarians at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) decided to cut serial subscriptions and to subsidize article delivery from a commercial document delivery vendor. Discusses the…

Describes Project Jupiter, which was developed to promote the United Kingdom's Joint Academic Network (JANET) to its member libraries. Library uses of JANET are described, including online catalogs, commercial services, and electronic mail; the convergence of local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) is discussed; and future…

Describes a computer network developed at the City University of New York Law School that uses device sharing and local area networking to create a simulated law office. Topics discussed include working within a multi-vendor environment, and the communication, information, and database access services available through the network. (CLB)

Examines two databases--MEDLINE and ABI/INFORM--as currently implemented on laserdisk, commercial systems, and local time-sharing in the University of Pennsylvania libraries. The direct costs to the library of installing and operating the three formats are analyzed, and costs and benefits to users are discussed, including comparisons of the…

This study examines the cost and performance of six commercial document suppliers accessible via Online computer Library Center (OCLC), compares their service to traditional interlibrary loan (ILL). Results indicate that, although commercial firms cannot replace ILL, they can add flexibility to a library's plan for document delivery. (Author/AEF)

Analyzes the future direction of accessing government information via online electronic formats from commercial, public, and private sources; addresses library challenges in accessing and preserving online information; and examines reduced availability of government information. Discusses federal administration initiatives, federal agency…

Describes consumer or business-oriented online services that provide access to current news information and offers a less expensive alternative to standard online databases. Online clipping services are discussed, their costs are examined, and profiles of five services are compared: CompuServe, CompuServe as a gateway to IQuest, DELPHI, DIALCOM,…

Considers electronic online access to newspapers, magazines, and newsletters. Legal factors discussed include license agreements and copyright; financial factors include royalties, pricing, and publisher priorities; and technological factors include keyed versus electronic copy, electronic delivery, graphics, telecommunications, and image-based…

Considers how to plan for online reference services. Highlights include local access to databases, including CD-ROM and database licensing; local gateways; online search services; and planning considerations, including cost, locating online information, telecommunications and computing infrastructures, and equal access. (Contains 15 references.)…

Considers how the role of information specialists is changing and evolving due to the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Topics include the impact of new technology, knowledge of information systems and databases, the emergence of new vendors, examples of unique Web sites, and economic factors. (LRW)

A study of the catalog holdings of all Canadian academic libraries found that fewer noncorporate publications were available than mainstream titles published by corporations and that electronic vendors provide little access to noncorporate "small publisher" titles while providing 100% access to surveyed mainstream titles. Examines the…

The National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services (NFAIS) is an organization of over 60 publishers and online service providers. Included is a formal white paper which was released in December 1997 to clarify the rights and responsibilities of each party in the electronic information delivery process: authors, publishers,…