Describes one college library's experience with a gateway for dial-in access to its CD-ROM network to increase access to automated index searching for students off-campus. Hardware and software choices are discussed in terms of access, reliability, affordability, and ease of use. Installation problems are discussed, and an appendix lists product…

While most librarians are aware of the increasing amount of electronic resources available in and from libraries, they may not realize how much World Wide Web information is being used in higher education classrooms. Making a web page with links to related sites for use in class and instructing students on finding Web information can be a daunting…

Discusses and compares the incorporation of technology by larger public libraries in Canada and the United States. Technology mentioned includes online public access catalogs; remote and local online database searching; microcomputers and software for public use; and fax, voice mail, and Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf and Teletype writer…

Includes three articles that consider the effects of the Internet on public library reference services. Highlights include the reliability of Internet information sources, its timeliness as a tool for information access and dissemination, the Internet as change agent for libraries; reference publishing, helping the searcher refine requests, and an…

Discusses the implementation of Web-based online public access catalogs in academic libraries. Highlights include infrastructure issues, including the server, network issues, and desktop workstation issues; recommended minimal desktop configuration; reference services; staff training; cataloging and access; workflow of acquisition and processing;…

In today's electronic environment, government information librarians face new challenges, especially in the arena of quality public-service provision. Given the lack of clear guidelines that Federal Depository Library Program participants follow, and based upon suggested guidelines of reference-oriented literature, a new set of public services…

It is estimated that one in every five people in the United States has problems performing daily activities without help, perhaps due to the aging of the population and to more and more children surviving severe birth defects. The importance of library services to the disabled cannot be overestimated; they have the same information needs as any…

This paper presents the background and then reports progress made in the development of two view-based searching systems--HIBROWSE for EMBASE, searching Europe's most important biomedical bibliographic database, and HIBROWSE for EPOQUE, improving access to the European Parliament's Online Query System. The HIBROWSE approach to searching promises…

OhioLINK (Ohio Library and Information Network) is transforming library and information access at 35 universities and colleges in Ohio. Document delivery, resource sharing, collection development, and reference and research database access are all undergoing rapid evolution and expansion. This model can be put into operation at other consortia.…

A survey of academic librarians in New York State (n=139) regarding their attitudes toward the Internet as a reference tool creating user and nonuser profiles incorporating gender, age, experience, access, and training. Researchers examined factors contributing to successful Internet use and to nonuse and made recommendations on how to integrate…

Discusses selecting for a reference collection, creative budgeting, cutting a deal, collection awareness (strengths/needs), Web site reviews, R-Net (reviews from diverse areas and institutions), and print vs. electronic reference products. Reference librarian adhere to high standards for reference book and Web sites, teach assessment techniques,…

Wisconsin's Interlibrary Library Loan Task Force was created in 1994 to identify and discuss effective patterns and methods of sharing resources among libraries of all types in Wisconsin and to determine the direction that different organizational levels should take in resource sharing, and to evaluate existing state-wide resource-sharing…

This PIALA 1993 Proceedings contains many of the papers presented at the 3rd annual conference of the Pacific Islands Association of Libraries and Archives. This publication is the first time papers from this Micronesian regional library and archives conference have ever been published. The conference addressed various topics of interest to…

A study at the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (Saudi Arabia) revealed that the overall materials availability performance rose from 63.8% to 76% when library staff provided assistance. The major reasons for nonavailability of items were related to circulation policy, ownership, and user skills. (Author/AEF)

Describes a project at Stanford University Library that was initiated to enhance user access to government documents collections by developing a prototype natural language computer-based aid. The development of an expert system, Government Documents Reference Aid (GDRA), is explained, and the application of expert systems in libraries is…