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This article describes the public computing center project initiated by the Charles County Public Library (CCPL) in Maryland to address the nation's digital divide. It also discusses public computer and broadband Internet access as a popular service offered by public libraries, the challenges of expanding public computer and broadband access in a library system, and the assumptions and opportunities that have guided the project. The article also details how a public computer center works and outlines the benefits of the effort.

The authors describe how they use online social networks in creating learning communities with their library staff, library users and their fellow librarians. They learn library management strategies from the experiences of other librarians as described by library-focused websites. They create training modules with assistance from library professionals using social media networks.

The article discusses how the online social media tool Twitter is being used by the California Digital Library (CDL) to interact with clients and new members. CDL publishes the contents of its monthly newsletter "CDLInfo News" and other CDL programs on Twitter. CDL developed guidelines for its staff concerning what and how to tweet, how followers are assessed and how followers can also be followed by CDL.

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 reports on the development of an online catalog by the Slater Public Library in Slater, Iowa. The library used machine-readable cataloging (MARC) subject fields to create an online catalog which would be useful to patrons looking for accessible materials for early elementary children. Cataloging materials involves various factors including publisher-provided information and experience of cataloging librarian.

The article offers information on the use of EZproxy, a rewriting proxy server, at the library of Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minnesota. It states that the university used to utilize the Squid, a web proxy program that users need to configure their browsers before they can have an access to the electronic resources. It adds that EZproxy server provides remote access to affiliated users to electronic resources without complicated configuration and it works on any browsers. INSET: Troubleshooting for Remote Users.

The article offers information on electronic resource management system (ERMS) used by libraries. An ERMS is a software module that assists the library in managing all the details related to its subscriptions to electronic content. One of the most obvious trends in libraries over the last decade involves the shift toward providing electronic content for the benefit of library patrons. Almost all libraries provide some form of electronic information. The overall volume of econtent to which the library subscribes is one factor leading to the need for an electronic resource management system. The other factor is the complexity of how it acquires that content.

The author discusses significant developments in creating computer interfaces that are relevant to library automation. It is inferred that a new vision of library interfaces has emerged that is more in tune with current Web technologies and user expectations. It is characterized by a broader scope that takes advantage of search technologies and techniques that are closer to the state-of-the-art, and offers more dynamic interactions with library users. There has been a shift that involves increasing investment in subscriptions to electronic journals and electronic book collections. Other improvements include faceted navigation, book jacket images, ratings and reviews and efficient content delivery.

The article offers information on two conferences in Monterey, California, about Internet access for libraries, including The Internet Conference and Exhibition for Librarians and Information Managers to be held from October 29 to 31, 2007 and a event titled What's Happening in IL Space?, which takes place on October 28, 2007.

The article offers advice for library directors in the U.S. on protecting customer records. The author notes that library directors need to educate themselves on the laws protecting the confidentiality of library and customers. Library staff members must be trained so that they know what procedures to follow if the police should request confidential library records from them. This training should include some background information about the Bill of Rights, the Patriot Act and state privacy protection.

The author argues that the technologies branded as Web 2.0 risks hampering the true potential of the Web by casting a particular approach or subset of technologies as preferred. He claims that while the technologies represent a positive step in the evolution of the Web, they are but an incremental shift in a much larger continuum of progress. He also sees the evolution of the Web as gradual and nowhere near complete.

The article offers tips on protecting public access computers and their users from computer hackers. According to the author, the first line of defense is its operating system (OS) and the indispensable security software such as firewalls and software to fight malware. Librarians are advised to always enable the auto-update of patches and anti-malware definitions, probably a couple of times a week. They also have to look for third-party utilities that are specially designed to enhance the security of the workstation.

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.

The article provides information on implementing and maintaining wireless access in libraries. Wireless technology changes rapidly, thus it is important to stay current with the changes, specially in updating the specifics of implementing wireless technology in libraries. This is because patrons encounter technology in their lives outside the library and expect services in the libraries to be equal to those they employ at work and at home. Several resources are cited in the article that should prove useful to librarians following developments in wireless technology.

The article focuses on the proble, of securing publicly accessible computers. Securing public access workstations should be a significant part of any library's network and information-security strategy because of the sensitive information patrons enter on these workstations. Like many public libraries, Johnson County Library of Kansas City has a formal policy that lets our patrons know that the library is not responsible for any liability that may occur as a result of the disclosure of any personal information over its public computers and network. The purpose of this kind of a policy, in my mind, is to make our users aware that public computers are not secure media and that third parties may be able to obtain information regarding their activities.

This article presents results of a survey on how Indiana's public libraries allow the citizens they serve access to the Internet. From the survey responses, it is clear that many Indiana libraries follow the national trend in restricting patrons on their use of public computers. However, a few of the responding libraries hold different perspectives. While some library managers feel it is within their purview to set limitations, others insist that patrons be responsible for themselves. Some librarians believe they must uphold their community's conservative values and use filtering software, others view filtering as intrusive and unnecessary. Staff members at public libraries contend with First Amendment issues on a daily basis. To help them deal with these difficult issues, it is important to provide up-to-date information on new filtering software and to discuss what software can and cannot do. It is also important to determine the Internet usage needs of library patrons and to discuss ways to facilitate their needs while preserving library policies. While it is apparent that no single policy could possibly serve all the needs of the varied public libraries in Indiana, further research and discussion about which policies work and why would benefit both libraries and patrons.

This article discusses the protection of user privacy in the age of digital libraries in the U.S. The topic of privacy regulations is complex at best, but research yielded three key insights. First, there is a host of legislation at both the federal and state level that applies to the users' privacy issues. At the federal level, the Privacy Act of 1974, Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and Children's On-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) are of interest to libraries. The Privacy Act of 1974 was passed in order to control the federal government's collection, use, and dissemination of sensitive personal information. FERPA is a law that requires educational institutions to protect students' privacy with regard to educational records, while COPPA prohibits Web sites from collecting personal information from children under the age of 13 without the consent of their parents. However, research suggested that this legislation is most pertinent to libraries. Second, the Library Bill of Rights and the American Library Association (ALA) Code of Ethics both have strong statements regarding libraries and a librarian's responsibilities to user privacy. The Library Bill of Rights implies that privacy needs to be protected by libraries. This is because users lose their freedom of inquiry if their privacy is not guaranteed. Furthermore, the ALA Code of Ethics makes a more direct statement regarding libraries and privacy: We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted. Third, beyond the legislative realm, libraries need to pay attention to privacy issues because they are part of the greater landscape of the Internet, and most commercial Web sites have some sort of privacy statement and policies.

This article offers ideas on choosing personal computer (PC) management software products that are oriented toward library or education users. One need to find the right balance of security and functionality. Not enough security may put the computer and even the entire associated network at risk. One will also need to update the antivirus signature files at least daily. Spyware is a huge category of malicious software. Patron authentication can be a very useful feature, especially when one have a large number of PC. For example, a patron may need to have a valid library bar code, fines less than $10, and be an adult resident to be able to use the Internet on a public PC. Reservation and session management features have become necessary in many libraries due to the popularity of their public access computers. If a library lends wireless devices such as laptops, one should double-check that a PC management application works with them. One may want to settle on two or three products and then try them out. PC management products will need to adapt to new risks by quickly incorporating necessary modifications and enhancements. On the advanced features side, integration and multifunctionality have been important trends.

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 presents information on various public access computer software management tools for use in libraries. The Web is very popular with library patrons. As a result, they will attempt to use every available computer for general Web access. Sometimes, these can be computers designated for online catalogs or licensed database use only. Public Web Browser (PWB) from TeamSoftware Solutions controls Web browser sessions. PWB replaces the Internet Explorer interface with an interface that is highly configurable. It allows users to specify sites that can or cannot be accessed via the browser. Running anti-spyware software on a system for the first time can be an enlightening experience. Free anti-spyware software can be downloaded from several sites. Microsoft has developed a patch management tool called Software Update Services. It is used to deploy critical Windows updates throughout the library. Meanwhile, EnvisionWare's PC Reservation software controls patron access to public access computers. It can work to authenticate patrons prior to granting access to computer. It can be configured for use in a patron self-service mode or a staff-managed mode. It even supports making reservations via the Web or telephone.

The article describes how Coquitlam Public Library in British Columbia moved its public access computers (PAC) from a Windows-based to a Linux-based operating system in 2003. In the mid-1990s the library started offering PAC to its patrons by using an Industry Canada Community Access Program grant and funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the years, the library managed to afford a few replacements but could not keep up with the general wear and tear and changes in technology. In 2003, the head of the library's systems department attended a conference in Toronto where she saw a demonstration of DiscoverStation, a Linux-based public access solution developed by Userful. One of DiscoverStation's most interesting features is that it allows up to 10 people to work independently from a single computer. The system is built specifically for public access use in libraries. The library decided to adopt DiscoverStation, and after the evaluation period, it made a 3-year commitment to DiscoverStation and purchased four computers to support 20 stations. In late December 2003, each branch of the library got one six-station box and one four-station box. A Userful representative was present to help in the set up and installation, and to do some initial staff training after the stations were ready.

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.

Discusses the importance of how library electronic resources are organized or managed. Details of displaying library materials and its importance to library users; Marketing techniques of bookstores and libraries to attract people; Information on online searching of library materials and resources; Problems in retrieving digital resources in virtual libraries.

Our reference numbers were declining, and we wanted to offer live help online. But as a medium-sized library with limited resources, we knew we couldn't go it alone. That's when the 24/7 Reference bandwagon rolled into town. Patrons were arriving in droves to use our Internet stations. Web page statistics were skyrocketing. Remote accesses to databases were escalating. We were busier than ever. But our reference questions were steadily decreasing. We began to wonder how we, a medium-sized public library with a limited staff, could provide a librarian's expertise to our online community members whenever they needed information? We discovered that a real-time reference collaborative would require small commitments of staff time and money, and decided to become players on the live reference bandwagon.

The residents of King Country, Washington, who turn to the justice system for help face many challenges. They must overcome barriers linked to information and legal literacy, economic limits, and access to computers and the Internet. There's been an explosion of available resources on the Web, but many come to the King County Law Library for help because they do not have Internet access at home. In Washington, county law libraries derive their authority from the state Legislature and operate as special districts. As a public law library, we provide access to legal information to judges, government officials, attorneys, and members of the general public.We believed that opening a training center would accomplish a number of goals and objectives, including fulfilling goals in the library's strategic and technological plans to enhance the role of the library's staff as teachers and trainers, to provide a setting for formal and informal learning opportunities geared to the needs of self-represented litigants, and to make the resources of the library's Web site available for patrons to use in-house as well as from remote locations.

The Shuter Library in Angel Fire, N.M., has always taken pride in its volunteers and in getting the job done on its own terms. While working for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's U.S. Library Program as a traveling trainer, I initially visited the Shuter Library to install its first computer, get it on the Internet, and help train the eager volunteers. As longtime board member Martha Lassetter tells it, the library was begun in June 1978 by a group of friends at the Angel Fire Resort Country Club, waiting for the State Library bookmobile to arrive. Ask library board director Debby Clanton, and she'll tell you that the impetus for this small library to make major plans for a new building, computers, an automation system, and to seek grant funding and other methods of fundraising all resulted from its first compute from the Gates Foundation in 1999. In 1999, Shuter Library's volunteers established a fundraising campaign, the Love Your Library Fund, with the goal to raise $200,000 and build a new library extension.

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.

Focuses on the development of the MusiCat Web system, which aims to make library resources more accessible to users. Organization of catalogs by 'visualizing' content for patrons; Librarian who is in charge of managing Web site content; Cataloging of music at the library.

Discusses computers and Internet access in libraries and the experiences of the author in drafting an Internet use policy for a library. Comparison of the policies of various libraries; Rights of library patrons; Issue of children and the Internet; Access control; Success of the policy.

Presents the experiences of the author in drafting policies for computer use in a library. Efforts of the author and library staff to find a balance between freedom and the protection of library patrons; Training of the staff in the procedures; Rights of library patrons; Effect of the policy on the number of complaints received by the library.

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.

Focuses on a visit to Native American libraries in New Mexico. Experience of the authors meeting tribal librarians, leaders, and community members; Issue of barriers to technology and Internet access for tribal libraries; Efforts to preserve tribal culture and language; Details of the Native American Access to Technology Program (NAATP); Impact of grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Offers observations on maximizing Internet access to libraries by using specific Internet domain designations such as .org, .net, and .com. How URL masking works; Use of domain masking during the 2001 National Library Week campaign; Success of the experiment.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of using a learning management system (LMS), a web-based software learning tool that share library handouts, instructional videos from YouTube, and other library resources to students.

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 presents options for libraries on the type of software to use to gain access on the web. For libraries without money or technical staff, the author recommends free and inexpensive Web 2.0 options. The programs are usually free or demand a small fee and require a few technical knowledge. For libraries with technical staff but less money, the open source option is suggested. No cash is needed but the program requires more technical skills and staff time. Buying software is a choice if the library has the cash.

The author focuses on the use of technology in libraries to ease the impact of the global economic crisis. He notes that several libraries have documented significantly reduced costs through the use of open source software. He cites that the investments in redesigning a Web site and information delivery tools of a library can make an improvement in the perceptions of library users. He asserts that the creative use of technology can offer relief for the challenging budget of the library by opening up opportunities to generate income.

The author offers online social networking tips for library professionals. Social networking sites that may be used by these professionals include Facebook, LinkedIn, for career building, and the microblogging service, Twitter. He mentions how library professionals can use Twitter effectively. He adds that launching Twitter feeds is one way for libraries to increase its exposure to its users.

The author focuses on improving computer links in libraries through the use of uniform resource locators (URLs). The author believes that a URL is the basic building block on the web as it provides useful information when users visit the web. He notes that libraries are not linking their pages to other pages very well. The files in the directory, the subject headings in the catalog and the access applications can be linked by URLs that do not change.

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 provides the author's insights regarding the increasing trend of cooperative library automation which intends to provide easy access of library materials to library users. The author discusses some options on how automation can be implemented in libraries including multibranch systems, consortia, and stand-alone automation. The author emphasizes the importance of using an enterprise-class software for large-scale implementations specifically designed to store high transaction volume.

The article presents the author's reflections on his experience with international library patrons and their use of technology. He discusses several instances where scholarly visitors were resistant to doing their own typing and describes several approaches that have worked for him with international visitors of different technological skill levels.

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

The author reflects on the need of information professionals to respect the skill levels of all their users and to make sure none are left behind. He comments on the challenges faced by librarians in providing services for library users on the road. He discusses a three-tiered strategy to analyze the behavior of digital library users.

The article offers information on online resources for legal issues that affect libraries. The American Library Association Web site has a page devoted to federal legislative issues such as Internet access, radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, copyright and digital rights management. Librarian and lawyer Bryan M. Carson, has created a Web site that provides documents related to library law. The iTunes service offers a set of links to podcasts from institutions of higher education about legal issues surrounding technology.

The article focuses on the emergence of the one-stop, do-it-yourself shopping trend in the U.S. and how the trend affects libraries. According to the author, she noticed two contradictory trends in retail: self-service and individual customer service. For those who have been in the library profession since the days of the card catalog, the integrated library system appeared to be the ultimate in convenience for both the profession and their patrons. The appeal of one-stop searching is obvious, but it seems that it is not an easy goal to achieve. The profession should continue discussing and search solutions and reference services to make sure their patrons always find what they are seeking.

The article discusses the factors that must be considered by librarians when planning to try new technology. The significance of considering the various needs of library users is emphasized. A description of a faculty-intensive environment with doctoral students and staff researchers is presented. Having the initiative to take an active stance in learning a new technology before it receives a formal approval can transform library technicians into experts. The cost of launching Weblogs is assessed.

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.