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Mounting digital images of art objects on a Web site is only the first step in providing patron access to such materials. Libraries and museums have a responsibility to provide not only high-quality digital reproductions but also high-quality access from an integrated library catalog with controlled vocabulary and consistent access points. While some digital collections may have excellent internal searchability and require no more than collection level cataloging in a library's OPAC, others may demand cataloging of individual components of the collection. A particular collection's significance, its potential audience, the types of access required, as well as factors such as its size and cohesiveness need to be considered before becoming locked into a specific Web design-especially when it is that of another institution. This paper examines several online library catalogs in which records for art objects as well as historical objects and natural history specimens have been merged, with varying degrees of success, and briefly addresses a modest proposal to catalog ceramic objects at the Ohio State University Libraries. The importance of consistent subject access in a merged catalog, regardless of the thesaurus or thesauri used, is stressed. Library consortia and bibliographic utilities may offer an economically appealing alternative for libraries that cannot design and construct their own digital libraries but these external organizations often have limited capability for—or interest in—modifying the design for a particular library and even less interest in cataloging the collections. Libraries, too, must be faulted for simply listing available electronic resources, either alphabetically or in broad subject categories, on a separate portion of their Web page and failing to provide full catalog records in their catalog. Finally, it is emphasized that the current debate over the viability of MARC 21 versus other metadata standards remains largely irrelevant to the importance of continuing to cultivate a monolithic online catalog, maintaining cataloging standards, and not mindlessly developing what amounts to a separate, rudimentary catalog solely for electronic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of Central Florida Health Sciences Library is a digital library with 98% of resources being electronic and available online. Though almost all aspects of the library's operations were impacted by the closing of the physical space during the coronavirus pandemic, being a digital library helped the library team transition quickly to remote reference, programming and instruction services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotlight for this edition of “The Balance Point” is on publishing and collection development issues in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region of the world. While reflecting upon recent events in the Middle East and Europe, the column editor began to wonder what impact current issues have on publishing, collection development, scholarly communication, and discoverability of resources from the MENA region, as well as the impact these issues have on the collection development activities of Western academic research libraries. Blair Kuntz, the Near and Middle Eastern studies librarian at the University of Toronto Library, was asked to coauthor the column and to share his insights regarding the region with readers. The authors discuss the myriad issues and the mosaic of collection development issues for the MENA region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on relaying hands-on information and real-life tips and perspectives about electronic resources (e-resources) and their roles in libraries. It tackles particularly new and emerging tools and technologies, procedures, tips, suggestions, and opinions that will lead to a better understanding of the digital environment including electronic resources. It also discusses the current economy and its impact on libraries and e-resources.

The Helen L. DeRoy Medical Library at Providence Hospital strives to maintain high library standards and to make library service improvement an ongoing process. To maintain and strengthen the library's key role in knowledge-based information management and to align the library's goals and objectives with the mission of its parent organization, the library conducted a needs assessment to identify any existing needs and gaps in library services and resources. A needs assessment survey with 17 items was designed and administered to library clients via e-mail and the library Website. Data were collected and analyzed for any needs and gaps in library services and resources. The identified needs and gaps presented the library useful information for future strategic and proactive planning and provided opportunities for the library's continuous improvement in its services and resources provision. The results of the needs assessment also produced strong evidence for the library to justify its selection of solutions for reduction and elimination of existing gaps based on data collected from library clients rather than the library staff's own perception and estimation of clients' needs. The needs assessment very well served as a first step for the ongoing process of library service improvement. doi:10.1300/J186v07n04_03 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The OpenURL, first introduced in 2000, revolutionized the world of linking for libraries and their patrons. Six years on, OpenURL link resolvers have become a core technology component in the library infrastructure. This article reviews the role that link resolvers have in delivering lull-text and other library services to the patron's desktop. Some additional creative uses of link resolvers in local environments are described, as well as an overview of COinS (Context Objects in Spans). This article also reviews specific applications which place library information within major results located via major Web search tools-Google, Google Scholar, Yahoo, Windows Academic Live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 2000 to establish the extent of Baltic collections in United Kingdom libraries: academic, public, and émigré community libraries. Baltic collections are understood in this paper to mean materials in the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian languages; however, reference is also made to materials in other languages about the history, society, and cultures of these countries. The paper begins with a short introduction to the history of Baltic library collections in the U.K., and then looks at the current situation, seeking to map Baltic collections at U.K. libraries, and establish collection size and strengths. Current collecting patterns are examined in the light of research trends, and the impact of electronic information sources is considered. Finally, prognostications are made about the future of Baltic library collections in the U.K., taking into account number of users, political factors, and the move towards increased inter-library cooperation occasioned by diminishing acquisitions budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The library Web site is a significant access point to a library's collections, resources, and services. A Web site can and should provide information about the library in a way that can be efficiently navigated and used by all library patrons. The usability of a libraryWeb site can be improved through changes in organization and design informed by the experiences of real users. User expectations should be primary in determining the content, purpose, organization, and design of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]