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Presents study results concerning internet access in public libraries in New York, New York. Rights of the public to information; Statistics of households using the Internet; Significance for an educational training in the use of electronic resources.

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has seen tremendous growth in demand from our patrons for popular e-content in recent years. This article illustrates some of the Library's key successes and challenges surrounding popular-interest e-content in the context of the evolving U.S. marketplace. NYPL began offering e-content via ebooks.nypl.org in 2004, when it entered into partnership with Overdrive, the primary e-content vendor to U.S. public libraries. That year the Library offered a start-up collection consisting of 5,992 e-books bringing in 5,227 checkouts. For the 12 months leading up to March of 2011, this same site brought in 387,959 checkouts of from a collection in excess of 59,000 items. These statisctics, when combined with the rest of NYPL's popular digital offerings, rank the Library's popular e-content collection #2 in circulation among its 90 circulating locations. The e-content marketplace is complex and evolving. If there is one constant theme throughout our experience since 2004, it is that forward momentum has steadily increased -- not just in technology, but in the availability of attractive content and the level at which consumers are embracing an e-literate lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binghamton University Libraries implemented an IM reference service using the Trillian client to monitor multiple IM accounts at two distinct reference service points. This paper addresses the process and practical considerations of implementing the service including selection of the appropriate software, creation of IM accounts for each service, development of a staffing schedule, and training of reference staff. Also included is an outline of future plans for improving IM services for students and academic library users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the Future of public libraries conference held in New York 18-19 May 2006. This addressed technology and communication trends, their impact on public library buildings, library use patterns and physical and electronic collection issues [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing ideas and techniques can be found from observing and surveying patrons in your library. The marketing techniques discussed in this article were utilized over a seven-year period at the F. Franklin Moon Library, a small specialized academic library. These affordable, effective, and realistic marketing techniques include a variety of adaptable ideas including surveys, pencils, screen savers, signage, college newspaper columns, and e-mail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Lucy Scribner Library at Skidmore College, we have produced 11 different postcards to promote services and collections. We have discovered the advantages as well as the limitations of using postcards as marketing/instructional/informational tools. There have also been some practical lessons to be learned along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the debate over public access to court records on the Internet. History of access to court proceedings and records found in the U.S. Supreme Court and New York State jurisprudence; Value of open judicial proceedings and records; Information on federal legislation adopted by New York that limits access to portions of documents posted on the Internet.

Edward G. Miner Library, the health sciences library at the University of Rochester Medical Center, is reaching out beyond its usual user group to improve health knowledge of members of six inner-city African-American churches and one community center. With the Congregation Healthy Heart Action Partnership (CHHAP) and the Rochester Public Library as partners, and with funding from the National Library of Medicine, Miner is providing Internet access at the churches and training church and community members to use reliable health Web sites such as MedlinePlus. A train-the-trainer approach and follow-up meetings empower church members to carry the information to others. In addition to trainees learning about reliable health Web resources and Rochester Public Library's health resources, new relationships between libraries and churches have resulted. It is hoped that this program will help reduce health disparities between Rochester's inner-city minorities and residents of the surrounding suburbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]