The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Automation Inventory of Research Libraries (PB13, October 1988) reflects data submitted by 117 of ARL's member libraries on their automation activities.
Most ARL libraries reported public access to their online catalogs through dial-up services or local or wide-area networks. Nearly 18,000 access points to 113 online catalogs were reported, including one system of 4,000 workstations. Almost 1,700 terminals are being used for data base searching, mostly within library buildings. At the same time, 92 libraries are providing about 600 CD-ROM units for public use, and 72 libraries are operating public computing facilities. The data has been enhanced with considerable analysis.
The Inventory is designed to be useful to a diverse readership, from administrators needing an overview of automation issues and trends to systems librarians searching for specific examples of automation applications.
Copies of the 1988 Inventory are available for $30.00 each, prepaid. To allow comparative analysis of data, back issues of the Inventory, covering 1985, 1986, and 1987, are available at a reduced price of $20.00 each.
[Contact: The Association of Research Libraries, 1527 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036; (202) 232-8656.]
