Information Technology in Public Libraries

With detailed and up-to-date information from every public library in the UK, this book identifies trends in the use of IT in every area of public library activity from computerized circulation to the use of Council-wide management systems, and evaluates likely future developments and the various approaches to IT planning and development adopted by public libraries. Areas covered in detail include: circulation systems; online public access catalogues; automated acquisitions systems; CD-ROM databases and online searching policies; private viewdata and videotext; community information applications; public access micros and software loan; microcomputers for administration. This commentary presents a state-of-the-art analysis of information technology for public librarians and for all researchers into the field.