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The article focuses on the decision of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in North Carolina to move to a model of the so-called unified services, in which any staff member at any service point can offer the same level of basic service to library customers. It notes that unified services approach enables customers to check out materials from any service point in the library. According to the author, the said approach is an effective strategy for coping the loss of staff positions through attrition.

The article presented information on text-to-speech (TTS) computer software. This software offers the affordable ability to turn just about any electronic text that is not image-based into an artificially spoken communication. TTS can be used to create an audible substitute for--or complement to--visual reading. TTS software forms the basis of screen reader software that greatly improves the accessibility of electronic information for people who are blind or who experience temporary or permanent low vision. Interest in the use of TTS software is increasing among libraries and library patrons. The factors which need to be considered when exploring and testing available stand-alone ITS software packages are discussed.

This article describes the efforts of Connelly Library at La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to integrate its services into the portal that the university implemented for the entire campus as of February 2005. Since the summer of 2004, the author has been working with Jim Sell, director of portal communications at the library, on finding more ways to take advantage of this technology. La Salle is a small, urban university in Philadelphia with a full-time enrollment of approximately 4,500 students. Although the full-time students are mainly residential, the need to provide resources to remote users is growing. The resident students live in fully wired dorms. Connelly Library, with a staff of nine full-time librarians, is the only library serving the La Salle community. Among the author's duties as the media services librarian is designing and maintaining the library's Web site. The author relates that although he designs the site to be as clear and accessible as possible, it contains a broad range of information, and not all of it is appropriate to every patron. Ideally, a portal shows each user only the information that is relevant to him or her, without the user even being aware that many other doors exist. The library decided this was the way it would like to offer its services to its diverse population. INSET: Three Keys to Opening a Portal Successfully.

The article discusses the importance for libraries to involve its patrons in selecting an appropriate integrated library system at the University of California at Los Angeles library. The Library Executive Committee, made up of the university librarian and the associate university librarians, was committed to seeking input from faculty and students in developing the Request for Proposal and in evaluating competing vendor systems. Asking patrons to identify core functions was unnecessary since all of the vendor systems share the same core functions. The management charged an Overview Team of library staff to review potential systems and report on the key differentiators among them. The committee recruited an advisory group of faculty and students. The faculty members did not feel qualified to answer questions on behalf of all their colleagues. Instead, they could advise how to reach their colleagues, what questions they were likely to answer and how to get the maximum information from them. The Functional Sponsors also showed that it was not enough to ask questions only about the subtle areas of difference between the systems. The final method for gathering user input was holding a series of focus groups to discuss trade-offs among the three systems.

The article highlights ways to integrate the services of a library to make it easier to use for library patrons. Using a library should be easy. Patrons with simple needs should not have to navigate through dozens of databases to find what they want. If they locate something in a citation database that needs to be requested through interlibrary loan, they should not be required to enter the information by hand into a separate form. Improved technology and vendor support for standards that allow systems to talk with each other has made seamless access to a wide variety of services a reality in many libraries already. It takes relatively little effort to let patrons find issues of electronic journals in a catalog, link database citations to the full text or to interlibrary loan system. Staff members do not want to change the address or other patron information in more than one system. Other objectives are not clear because different types of users may have competing interests and abilities. Some of the services that libraries want to integrate may not support a good mechanism for automatically sharing information with other systems. Some database may want substantially higher license fees because of the increased usage they expect from being included in a metasearch.

Focuses on the creation of the S.A.I.L.S. Library Network, a private non-profit corporation which is an automatic library network in Massachusetts. Services of S.A.I.L.S. to its member libraries; Computer network which is shared by libraries; Installation of the WebCat catalog; Limitations of services to library users.

Discusses the role of technology in the library industry and its effect on librarians. Experiences of the authors at Novi Public Library in Michigan; Role of librarians in providing patrons with access to technology; Efforts of librarians to train each other to use various technologies; Outlook for the future of libraries.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of applying EngagedPatrons (EP), a low-cost technology solution web service provider, along with Yahoo!Pipes, to the events management system of the Jasper County Public Library in Indiana.

The article discusses benefits obtained by libraries from digital library collections and other content repositories. Materials included in digital collections are manuscripts, photographs, newspapers and postcards. One of the benefits offered by digital collection is being able to entice more users because of its web presence.

The article explores some issues related to attracting a growing and engaged community of patrons surrounding the library's web presence. With so many commercial interests providing information products, libraries have to devote considerable effort to draw in their patrons from the many alternatives. Convenient and efficient access to exceptional content should make libraries top web destinations. Anything that impedes access to content or that fails to deliver content in ways that visitors can easily navigate will decrease activity relative to the site's potential. Some of the new-generation library catalog interfaces have some Web 2.0-style features such as the ability to rate and review collection items

This article discusses the potential of social software in libraries. An article by Thomas Frey discusses the future of libraries. It covers the changing roles of libraries as a result of current trends and technologies. Frey's recommendations for those concerned about the future of libraries include evaluating the library experience from the patron's viewpoint, embracing new technologies, preserving community memories, and experimenting with creative spaces. Software used to create online communities is described as social software. These tools include Weblogs, wikis, and chat.

The article describes the job of library's system administrators. Librarians who serve as systems administrators are never without a long list of tasks on their to-do lists, and every one of those tasks is a top priority. There are suggestions for system improvements from both staff members and library patrons, all with different opinions on the "right" system design. Another site that can help the busy systems administrator keep up with network security and digital privacy is Vitalsecurity.org. This nonprofit organization's goal is to disseminate the latest information on developments in the online world.

This article discusses need of libraries for secure Web sites. Like any other organization that performs its business on the Web, libraries also need the security provided by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). While a library's basic Web site and online catalog functions do not need enhanced security, it is important to use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for the transactions that involve sensitive information. It is also needed when patrons are required to enter personal details such as addresses, telephone numbers, usernames, and/or passwords. Some of the online catalogs on the market today do not use SSL by default, even when processing these personalization features. Administrators of these systems may have to do extra work to ensure that these transactions function securely. Current trends clearly indicate that security threats on the Web will continue to increase and to intensify. To deal with this reality, it is important that librarians make appropriate use of the available technologies in order to protect their patrons' personal information. PKI and digital certificates are just some of the basic components that librarians can employ to strengthen their site's security and to help them earn their patrons' trust.

This article explains the use of anonymous cards in libraries in the U.S., as a way to protect libraries from legal actions. Anonymous cash cards, better known of gift cards, are already in existence. Using the same principle, libraries can issue a borrower card that uses cash, rather than personal ID information, as collateral. Because the library knows how to contact the owner of a card associated with a photo ID, it is willing to loan hundreds of dollars worth of material. If the user does not promptly return the material in good condition, the library can involve a collection agency or alert the police. With an anonymous library card, the library is willing to loan materials to anyone because it knows it cannot really lose anything. Since the library would never loan more than it could re-coup from a cash deposit, it would be able to loan controversial items without storing personally sensitive information. If the user does not return the material promptly, the fines would be deducted when it is finally checked in. With this system in place, libraries could also welcome tourists who want to borrow books about the local community, travelers who want to watch DVD on their laptops in their hotels, and library users from neighboring areas. Anonymous lending opens the door to new kinds of users, protects the library from loss of materials, protects the borrower from loss of privacy, and protects both from the repercussions of a privacy breach. And law enforcement could still investigate suspects in a criminal case: Having searched the suspect's belongings with a legitimate warrant, police officers could ask the library for information about the use of the anonymous library card they seized.

This article discusses the organization of digital materials in libraries. Library collections often include materials that cannot he placed on shelves either because they are digitized versions of primary sources or because they exist only in electronic form and do not have physical counterparts. These digital materials need to be organized and managed just as physical materials do, not only so librarians can handle the details of licensing, subscriptions, rights management, and other acquisitions issues, but also so patrons can retrieve them just as easily as if they were housed on library shelves. There are several research projects that were building solutions for efficient digital asset management. One such project was the WGBH Digital Asset Management Initiative. The home page for the project provides a link to information on the Sun Microsystems/WGBH iForce Center for Digital Asset Management. It serves as a worldwide reference for digital asset management as well as an executive briefing center and a demonstration site. Another interesting project is the Digital Asset Management Initiative. Its Digital Asset Management System Living Lab uses hardware and software to provide digital asset management in support of research and instruction on the campus.

This article discusses the use of computers in small libraries. College student patrons make less of a distinction between the physical and the virtual world. These students are online all the time, constantly connected to their cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, e-mail accounts, and chat groups. For these patrons, 24-hours-7-days-a-week communication is now a reality. With these expectations, even small libraries must develop more than just a Web-based presence. The good news is that an ever-growing set of inexpensive tools and techniques can be found that can aid users in interactive Web site development. Weblogs, online newspapers, e-journals, and news portals all seem to be publishing their sites as XML/RSS. E-commerce giants such as Amazon.com and Google are also republishing their information as XML. In a phrase, all this events mean free information to libraries. With all this content floating around in cyberspace, librarians will find ways to harness it for the benefit of their patrons. Many of library patrons see the Web as a viable alternative to the bricks-and-mortar library. If librarians feel threatened by the Web or alternative information providers, their fear is well-founded. It is no secret that the library is no longer the only information provider out there. In the competitive environment, small libraries, above all others, are the most likely to be marginalized. That is because they have captured the imagination and attention of library patrons with some useful technologies. If small libraries are going to survive and thrive in the competitive technological environment, it will not be as a thousand small units but as a unified collaborative.

This article provides information about RSS for and its use in reaching library users in remote areas. For those not familiar with the term, the best place to start is with a definition. Webopedia defines RSS as an acronym for either RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary, and states it is an XML format for distributing syndicated content such as news or events listings. Wikipedia, on the other hand, defines it as an acronym for Really Simple Syndication, an XML family of communication standards. There are libraries that are using RSS to deliver content, and perhaps the best way to learn about some of the possible applications is to see how these pioneering libraries are using RSS feeds. Current uses of RSS feeds, as compiled by librarian Gerry McKiernan, include announcements, cataloging, databases, instruction, Internet resources guides, new books, new journal issues, new media, news, reference services, table of contents. Making the library readily accessible from outside its walls is not just a way to provide additional convenience. Now the library can provide services to users who are both near and far. Utilizing RSS feeds may be one way to extend service to remote patrons, and librarians should consider whether this technology has a place in their array of services.

The article provides information on the convergence of interlibrary loan management and local collections. The functions of the interlibrary loan department continue to play a key role in satisfying patron needs and the advent of digital libraries has, if anything, increased demand for materials not found on library shelves. As online interlibrary loan grows, it becomes another feature on complex Web pages that already offer many options for the patron's consideration. Users who have access at a glance whether an item is available in print, online or both. Librarians pioneered the concept of resource sharing the print-only era. The instant gratification of the open Web has increased user interest in quick turnaround and delivery, even when they are seeking rare or print-only materials. With Web-based consortial lending and document delivery bundled together, users are much more likely to receive an electronic copy and to print it locally. When users confront a vast array of electronic journals, all of which look different and require different search strings, they often get frustrated. As off-site storage facilities digitize their holdings for electronic loan, the balance between print copies that are mailed and electronic copies that are e-mailed is changing.

Discusses the idea that computers in libraries have changed experiences of using libraries. Features which could be incorporated in library computers; Comments on the MusiCat catalog, which helps organize music in libraries; Idea that libraries offer longevity, and can build services that last.

Presents the experiences of the author as a librarian and discusses the question of whether technology defines the roles of librarians. Idea that technology gives librarians tools to better serve patrons; Outlook for the future of the library industry.

Discusses the evolution and pervasiveness of the Internet in the United States. Percentage of the U.S. population that has access to the Internet as of September 2000; The origin on the Internet; Forecast for the future of the Web; Opinion that most computers in libraries and corporations in the U.S. are underutilized; How computer users can assist the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI); Critiques of other Internet developments.

The article discusses steps to make a library staff obtain, deploy and troubleshoot any incoming new technology. The author suggests letting the staff know as early as possible the introduction of the new technology in order to give them time to adjust. Explaining to the staff that the incoming technology will aid the library in its goals is also suggested. Getting the staff involved by making them find ways to advertise the new technology to the reading public is another suggestion.

The article discusses tips for librarians on publishing subject guides, research guides or study guides. First tip is to make web-based subject guide interesting to library users by including RSS feeds and chat widget. It is also recommended to make frequent posts, inclusive of resources on the Internet.

The article offers guidelines for database evaluation. The assessment of a database's value to the library is not a simple matter. A thorough evaluation must account for many variables in order to arrive at a true measure of database value. Quality of content must enter the calculation of database value. The presence of extra titles in a full text list does not provide a better user experience, rather it will tend to provide the highly unsatisfactory user experience of searching for journal articles and receiving a results set filled with inappropriate articles.

This article offers technical tips for librarians. As library resources become more technology-dependent, patrons expect support in accessing and using trusted resources--even when a problem exists on their end. Even smaller public libraries can reach out in a number of ways to provide technology help to their patrons--by partnering with other local institutions, by creating or borrowing lists of useful resources, and by providing all staff with step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting common problems. The MaintainIT Project's "The Joy of Computing" offers some useful guidelines for recruiting and effectively using technical volunteers as well as invaluable advice on maintaining public access computers.

The article offers advice for library administrators on providing cheap or alternative technological services to library users. The author recommends to create a presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint to advertise current programs and services offered by the library. PowerPoint viewer is a free and downloadable program for running presentations. Google Co-op, which allows anyone to set up a customized search and place a search box on his or her own site, can also be used for libraries. The Ann Arbor, Michigan District Library Web site uses an underlying content management system called Drupal and integrates blogs throughout its structure.

Reports that Sagebrush Corp. has released UCheck, a program that allows library patrons to check out materials by themselves. Set-up; Security measures; Features.

Discusses the outlook for the use of personal digital assistants (PDA) in libraries. Role of wireless computers in libraries; Effect of technology on libraries; Idea to enable libraries to provide wireless access to PDAs within a certain distance of the library, in order to provide users with access to catalog and Internet access.

Focuses on the content of library Web sites and the types of changes involving content on a library Web site over the course of its development. Creation of content by people in the organization who have the most experience; Phase in which the Web site is becoming database-driven; Way that the progression of a Web site can allow it to better serve library patrons.

The article highlights some of the issues covered at the Computers in Libraries Conference, held in April 2007 in Arlington, Virginia. Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, points out that Internet links are important for Web site referral. Andy Carvin of National Public Radio made a statement in reference to the surge of social networking software and user-generated content online.

Suggests the need of librarians to study how patrons think and adjust accordingly. Importance of thinking similarly with librarians in terms of organizing; Efforts to address computer search methods.

This article explains how to create guest users in Horizon 8.0. Horizon 8.0 will have the functionality to allow librarians to issue anonymous, cash-based cards to patrons. Libraries can have a number of different types of guest users, depending on whether the guests want to be completely anonymous or whether they just need temporary privileges. To set up guest users, first, edit the library's location record to permit guest users. Next, create a new loan type for guest users. Then, if librarians want overall statistics about anonymous use, they can create a new user statistical class and link it to the loan type. Using item types and the loan type, librarians can now assign privileges. They will need to determine whether to require a deposit and what other limits may apply. Librarians can now start issuing and using guest cards at their library.

This section reports on several library products in the U.S. as of May 2004. Sirsi Corp. announced the launch of an original certification program for the National Information Standards Organization Circulation Interchange Protocol (NCIP). This product will enable third-party vendors to ensure that their NCIP-compliant products integrate with Sirsi systems. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) announced the completion of an independent audit of IEEE Xplore usage statistics. The controls-based audit, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, reviewed the accuracy of the count of portable document-format documents downloaded from IEEE Xplore. In a legislative session in 2004, the Utah state legislature amended Utah's existing Online Access of Public Libraries Act to make Utah libraries' state funding contingent on their installation of filters that block certain images on all public access computers. Those filters may be disabled, at the request of a library patron who is not a minor, to allow access for research or other lawful purposes. The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, announced that 51 members of the Oberlin Group of Liberal Arts College Libraries have become institutional members of the Public Library of Science.

Deals with the availability of Concerto 1.9, a platform from BiblioMondo that provides real-time data consolidation. Impact of the platform on downtime; List of the patron-centric tools offered by the platform; Features offered by the platform to library administrators.

Reports on the announcement by Computers By Design Inc. of the first-quarter release of an upgraded version of CybraryN. Description of the public-access control solution; Improvements from the old version; An Educational Discount Program, which is a pricing structure designed to help libraries and schools; Source; Web site.