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Stresses the important services an online catalog offers and lists some of the most important trends and changes in library cataloging. The emergence of a trend to link local catalogs to each other; Changes in the way library users search the catalog; Assertion that many librarians lack understanding of the role that catalogers should play; Commitment of the American Library Association to address the recruitment of catalogers; Efforts of librarians to ensure that the bibliographic records created can be used in the catalogs of all libraries; Discussion of MARC formats and ways to order bibliographic records on the online catalog screen; Opinion that a change in the approach to subject cataloging could accomplish a great deal. INSET: The National Coordinated Cataloging Program.

The article reports on a study performed during 1987 that tested the belief among catalogers that the quality of original cataloging in online computer library catalog (OCLC) and research libraries information networks (RLIN) differs markedly, and determines whether some kinds of errors occurred with greater frequency in member-contributed original cataloging. In the early years of these two major U.S. bibliographic networks, Library of Congress machine-readable cataloging (LC MARC records) formed the nucleus and large majority of records of both databases. Although LC MARC records are not error-free, they were then and are today the highest standard of quality in the U.S., leaving the networks to assume that most of their cataloging was the best quality available. Using MARC records as their authority, both databases required member libraries to follow LC practice. The proportion of records in OCLC and RLIN contributed by member libraries has grown steadily, while the proportion of LC MARC records declined. The two networks took different approaches to quality control. They had different objectives, pricing structures, cataloging needs and capabilities, and historic developments. At the risk of oversimplifying, it is not unfair to say that OCLC emphasized building its database, encouraging members to contribute new cataloging without applying strict controls on its accuracy and fullness, while RLIN assigned a high priority to cataloging quality, encouraging accuracy and fullness in records even if fewer of them were contributed as a result.

Focuses on the database culture of libraries in the U.S. Online catalog records; Navigation of visitors to libraries' Web page.

Presents the opinions of librarians at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, on the issues that confront them, as of February 2004. Small subject libraries present on the campus; Motive of college officials for partnering with two local colleges; Development of a combined online catalog called, Tripod in the libraries at Swarthmore.

Discusses the Linux operating system that is offered free to schools. Decision of the Riverdale school district in Oregon to use Linux's K12-LTSP operating system, which is tailor-made for K-12 schools; Other Linux-based software systems; Remarks from librarians about the system; Reluctance of library staff to let students access the library's online catalog from home.

Reports that every official Roman alphabet title has been logged into the online catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Report that there are over one million items in the NOTIS-based catalog known as Libraries of the University of Minnesota Integrated Network Access (LUMINA); Use of LUMINA for acquisitions, fund accounting, cataloging, and serials control; Funding for the cataloging project which was provided by the Bush Foundation and other donors.

Reports on the developments in library automation in the U.S., as of November 1988. Availability of computer programs for managing information; Addition of members for the Wayne State University-based Detroit Area Library Network; Utilization of an information retrieval system with optical disc and floppy disk applications; Implementation of online catalog and information system.

The United States Library of Congress announced the launch of the Election 2002 Web Archive, the world's first fully cataloged and searchable collection of material that originates in digital form. The collection, commissioned by the Library of Congress, includes more than 1,100 archived Web sites from political candidates who ran for House and Senate seats and governorships in 2002. It contains more than 3,000 unique uniform resource locators, 1.3 terabytes of data, and almost 50 million Web objects. The Election 2002 Web Archive is a joint project of the Library of Congress, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and WebArchivist.org..

Reports on an announcement by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) that it will develop a national standard for technical metadata describing digitized still images. Development of a standards committee to draft a National Z39.50 Profile for library applications; Decision to develop a standard for metadata based on a study which found a lack of consistency; Goal of a National Z39.50 Profile to improve search and retrieval across online library catalogs.

Discusses the development of a state-of-the-art automated library system at the Carnegie-Mellon University Libraries in Pittsburgh. Plans of the three-year project, including the linking of online catalogs and databases; Amount of money that two grants from Pew Charitable Trusts of Philadelphia will be given to Carnegie-Mellon University for the project; Number of libraries in the library system.