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The article outlines a series of events in 2005 ensuring that information switched its dominant format from analog to digital. Inspired by Project Gutenberg, Hugh McGuire created LibriVox, a project whereby volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain then transfer those recordings into MP3 files that are available for free on the www.librivox.org. Last November, the Library of Congress announced its creation of the World Digital Library, an online collection of rare books, manuscripts, and other materials that will be freely available for viewing by anyone, anywhere, with Internet access. Each of the events affects libraries in significant ways. From digitization projects to interlibrary loan and from electronic reserves to electronic books, copyright law is having an impact on librarianship.

The article offers information on the results of the Pew Internet & American Life Project study which looked at how Americans use libraries and how libraries can better serve the one-third of the U.S. population with low internet access. Only 13 percent said they used the public library as a resource for finding information. The demographic signals that influence Internet use seem to be a factor in library use as well, with income having the reverse impact on library use from Internet use. The study found that Generation Y-ers are the most likely to turn to the library for help.

The article highlights articles published in various periodicals related to library science. In his article published in Computers in Libraries, Michael Sauers provides a framework for writing policies for public-access wireless networks. He provides the components of a policy set up by the Smoky Hill branch of the Arapahoe Library District in Colorado. In the March/April issue of Online, editor Marydee Ojala outlines the search capabilities of Google Book Search. In her article published in Searcher, Paula Berinstein addresses the central question that concerns information professionals: reliability.

Discusses the impact of multimedia computing on the Internet bandwidth requirements of United States libraries. Effect of the use of the downloading of MP3 music files from the Napster web site on bandwidth usage on university computer networks; Efforts to restrict Napster usage in order to maintain sufficient bandwidth for campus libraries; Need for libraries to ensure high-quality connectivity for Internet-based content.

Reports that OCLC has announced that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded it a three-year grant to build a Web-based public access computing portal for public libraries and other organizations that provide open access to information. Design of the portal; Areas served by content; Benefits of this portal to librarians.

Reports on the release of SIRSI Corp.'s iBistro Internet-access portal for library users. Internet-searching services featured on the iBistro web site; Details of iBistro's user interface and utilization of library catalog records; Benefits of the service for library users.

Reports on the partnership between publisher RockHill Communications and MARC Link Retrospective Conversion. Details of their collaboration on the creation of electronic library products WEB FEET MARC Records and WEB FEET ONLINE; Impact of the products on Internet access for library users.

Forecasts the growth of wireless information sector. CNET News.com stories predicting the increased demand for wireless phones and information appliances compared to computers; Emergence of the Wireless Application Protocol format to make library databases available to end users; Potential conversion of some library applications to wireless; Ways to access the wireless online public access catalog.

Reports that in 1999 the New York Public Library (NYPL) received $6.5 million in discounts on $8.3 million in telecommunications, Internet and equipment expenses through a federal education rate (e-rate) program. How the e-rate program was created as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; How the discounts will provide the library the opportunity to improve its computer networks and Internet access; Contact information for the NYPL.