As a reference guide for library professionals, this volume helps librarians prepare for the future in the growing electronic environment by examining the historical and theoretical background of the National Electronic Library and assessing the role of libraries in the past, present, and future. The book is divided in two sections: "The National Electronic Library" and "Facilities, Services, and Planning in the Revolutionized Environment." The book consists of an introduction (Gary M. Pitkin) and twelve chapters: (1) "The National Electronic Library: The Environment Personified" (Joy Reed Hughes and Karyle S. Butcher); (2) "Consortia and the National Electronic Library" (Alan N. Charnes); (3) "The Academic Institution and the National Electronic Library" (Thomas M. Peischl); (4)"The Public Enterprise and the National Electronic Library" (Agnes M. Griffen); (5) "Library Education and the National Electronic Library" (Faye N. Vowell); (6) "Reengineering Existing Buildings To Serve the Academic Community" (Delmus E. Williams); (7) "The Architect's Point of View" (Craig Hartman, John Parman, and Cheryl Parker); (8) "Collection Development in the Revolutionized Environment" (Johannah Sherrer); (9) "Public Services in the Revolutionized Environment" (David F. Kohl); (10) "Technical Services in the Revolutionized Environment" (William A. Gosling); (11) "Strategic Planning and the Allocation of Library Resources" (Gary M. Pitkin); and (12) "Are Libraries Necessary in the Revolutionized Environment?" (Robert C. Heterick, Jr.). A selected bibliography and subject index are also included. (Contains 159 references.) (SWC)