Discussion of public libraries, the Internet, and the World Wide Web focuses on development of a Web site in Washington. Highlights include access to the Internet through online public access catalogs; partnerships between various types of libraries; hardware and software; HTML training; content design; graphics design; marketing; evaluation; and…

Presents summaries of 12 papers presented at the 1990 Computers in Libraries Conference. Topics discussed include online searching; microcomputer-based serials management; microcomputer-based workstations; online public access catalogs (OPACs); multitype library networking; CD-ROM searches; locally mounted online databases; collection evaluation;…

Provides background on the holdings, services, and layout of the mediatheque (multimedia library) at the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie (originally the Museum of Science, Technology, and Industry) in Paris. The library's online public access catalog and use of the catalog by children and the visually handicapped are described. (four…

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…

Reports on a qualitative study that explored strategies and behaviors of public library users during interaction with an online public access catalog, and users' confidence in finding needed information online. Discusses results of questionnaires, interviews, and observations that examined unknown-item searches, area searches, and known-item…

Describes New Jersey libraries' specific goals for providing the public with electronic access to bibliographic data and government information as well as electronic interlibrary loan and document delivery. Other highlights include results of a public library survey concerning electronic access to information, dial-in access to online public…

Despite predictions that the Latino population will become the nation's largest minority group, mainstream publishing offers few titles for Spanish-language collections development. This article describes how the San Antonio (TX) public library has developed a "Latino Collection." Includes highlights on how the Queens Borough (NY) Public…

Assessed library instruction initiatives with respect to OPACs by surveying 414 academic, public, school, and special libraries. Most participants' libraries have modified library OPAC software; librarians continue to teach use of the online catalog; few systems have built-in tutorials; and few have computer-assisted instruction. (Author/JKP)

This article describes a multi-method research project examining the use of various freely available online collections and projects, such as Project Gutenberg, the Internet Archive, and Creative Commons-licensed ebooks, by public libraries. This research begins with the questions: what are libraries doing with freely available materials? Are…

Introduction: This paper describes the findings of a study of 1517 public library Websites in Australia, Canada, and the United States over a period of four years. These Websites are referred to as 'electronic branches' of the libraries, thereby extending the definition of physical library branches into the digital realm. The purpose of the…

Technology makes it possible to redefine libraries and make them relevant to the public once again. But how good are the digital services offered by public libraries today? The digital services department team of the Pode project at Norway's Oslo Public Library has spent the last 2 years investigating the possibilities available in order to…

Discusses the difficulties encountered by children and adolescents when they are confronted with different types of catalog access modes in public and school libraries. Suggestions for alleviating these difficulties include the design of friendly features in online catalogs and cooperative planning by public and school libraries. (five references)…

Describes study that was conducted to evaluate fourth, sixth, and eighth grade students' use of an online catalog to gain bibliographic access to materials in a public library. Differences between online and card catalogs are examined, tests to measure students' skills and preferences are described, and implications for software design are…

Description of the development of a CD-ROM public access catalog at the Tacoma (Washington) Public Library covers: (1) costs; (2) pros and cons; (3) access time; (4) updates; (5) linking with the circulation system; (6) vendor selection; (7) compact disc interactive; and (8) digital video interactive. (MES)

Discusses factors to consider when estimating the number of public access terminals (PACs) or workstations needed in public and academic libraries for online catalogs, including building size and layout, physical facilities, resources available through the system, peripheral equipment, graphical user interfaces, remote users, system capacity, and…