ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


3 4 0 /C&RL News

In the N ew s
In this issue many of our authors share with 

us how they are using technology to increase 
access to information.

Ann Margaret Scholz, Richard Cary Kerr, and 
Sam u el K eith  B ro w n  d e s c r ib e  P urd u e 
University's development of an interactive com­
puter tutorial that will facilitate the library ori­
entation program (page 346).

Patricia Libutti and Kimberly Kelley discuss 
how ACRL’s Education and Behavioral Sciences 
Section has extended its Annual Conference 
program through the development of a Web 
site which lists a description of the program, 
related resources, and includes an interactive 
portion that gives the program life beyond its 
time slot during the conference (page 357).

Katie Clark continues the series o f Internet 
resources by highlighting agricultural sites avail­
able on the Internet (page 359).

But technology may also cause some con­
cern. Frank Allen and Sarah Watstein offer a 
point/counterpoint on the value of the library

as a physical space. Should the library offer a 
comfortable space— like so many of the won­
derful bookstores springing up around the 
country? Or is the value of the library its access 
to information? Or some combination o f the 
two? C h eck ou t page 372 fo r Allen and 
Watstein’s perceptions.

As long as the library includes a physical 
space, Kate Ragsdale and Janice Simpson re­
mind us o f the im portance o f em ergency 
plans— especially those that include procedures 
that address the diverse needs of physically chal­
lenged library users (page 351).

This issue also provides two conference re­
ports. Lester Pourciau reviews the Victorian 
Association for Library Automation Conference 
on page 368 and Steve McKinzie shares high­
lights o f Harvard U n iv ersity ’s “Com m on 
Ground” (page 365).

— Mary Ellen K. Davis
E ditor & P u blisher

medavis@ala.org

mailto:medavis@ala.org