In this month's column, the author discusses his work on the Library Technology Guides site, additions he has made to the lib-web-cats online directory of libraries, and applications he has created for managing home projects such as family photographs.

What would technological librarians like to see in the next generation of Integrated Library Systems (ILS)? This question was asked of several well- known library technology experts, and their responses are presented in this article. Survey respondents expressed a clear desire for the following features and functionality: (1) Direct, read-only…

Explains why libraries need to move beyond the limitations of their old technology when they move to new computer systems with wider boundaries. Describes how to change the work flow by focusing on time factors, including implementation; coordination for staff and departments; patience; reports; and improving public services. (LRW)

Describes jukeboxes that are currently available for use by libraries to control the security and safety of CD-ROMs. Nine manufacturers are listed, and the alternative of installing an array in which each CD-ROM is in its own drive is explained. (LRW)

This article discusses the current environment of the ILS (Integrated Library System) plus add-ons tailored for electronic content and its future. It suggests that while the ILS may be mature, the supplemental products are not and the linkages among them are even less so. On the technical front, the recent interest in Web services gives reason to…

The Contra Costa County Library is located within the greater San Francisco Bay Area. With 26 physical locations and a virtual branch, it has more than 400,000 cardholders and serves a population of almost 1 million. As part of developing a strategic plan to meet the needs of the public in the 21st century, the library hired a consultant to gather…

Given the recent spate of library system vendor acquisitions and consolidations, integrated library system (ILS) migrations have become a hot topic again. Although ILS migrations happen all the time, they tend to be cyclical in nature. Today, people are thinking broadly about what options might be available to them. These include changing vendors,…

Up until fairly recently, library collections have consisted of physical things--books; journals; audiovisual materials; and, in some libraries, collections of realia. Now, however, collections often include materials that cannot be placed on library shelves either because they are digitized versions of primary sources or because they exist only…

In days that seem very long ago, when the card catalog was the only way to search a library's collection, there was very little debate about the usability of the catalog. Librarians were most concerned about properly formatting catalog cards and, of course, ensuring that the cards were filed correctly. Today, the card catalog has been replaced in…

Blogging offers an alternative and sometimes superior way to communicate with library patrons. It provides an opportunity to speak more directly to them, and it does so in a manner that is more comfortable and convenient for all involved. A library's Web site may be the only interaction that patrons have with the organization, so it makes sense to…

This guide lists more than 5,000 library-related computer services, resources, and supplies in the following sections: (1) products and services, including hardware and supplies, software, and services; (2) vendor products/services; (3) product names; (4) vendor addresses; and (5) consultant addresses. (MES)

Discusses MARC records and describes a HyperCard script that translates MARC records from a communications format into an easy-to-read tagged format. An appendix lists a script from a HyperCard program called "The MARC Reader," and it is suggested that it could represent the beginning of an automated catalog. (two references) (LRW)

This article discusses six maxims by which to run library automation. The following maxims are discussed: (1) Solve only known problems; (2) Avoid changing data to fix display problems; (3) Aut viam inveniam aut faciam; (4) If you cannot make it yourself, buy something; (5) Kill the alligator closest to the boat; and (6) Just because yours is…

This article, the second installment of CIL's (Computers in Libraries) 2005 Helping You Buy series, provides an in-depth look at library selfcheck systems from 10 vendors. The product comparison chart will help you to quickly and easily compare products from competing vendors. All of the information on the product comparison chart came directly…

The last time this author wrote about open source (OS) software was in last September's 2004 issue of Computers in Libraries, which was devoted to making the most of what you have and do-it-yourself solutions. After the column appeared, she received an e-mail from David Dorman of Index Data, who believed that she had done OS products a disservice…