View this and past issues on the Web at http://www5.oclc.org/downloads/design/abstracts/

Here's an opportunity to try e-journals from South Africa

OCLC PICA, the European Library Cooperative, and Sabinet Online are offering a free trial until May 1 to SA ePublications, a database of more than 160 online journals.

SA ePublications is one of the most comprehensive, searchable collections of full-text electronic journals from South African publishers. It offers collections in business and finance; law; medical and health; religion; science, technology and agriculture; and the social sciences and humanities. Some journals have an electronic archive that dates back to 2000, and many offer abstracts back to 1971. The majority of the journals are published in English; 23% of the journals are in Afrikaans and 3% in Dutch, German or French.

Examples of journals in the SA ePublications database include: African Journal of Conflict Resolution; Health SA: Interdisciplinary Research; South African Journal of Chemistry; and the South African Journal of Cultural History. A listing of the journals for each collection is available at the Sabinet Online Web site.

The database is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for a two-hour maintenance window from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. on Monday. Please use the online OCLC PICA feedback form to provide comments on the database. For more information, contact Sandra Korse, Content Manager, by e-mail or by telephone, +31 (0)71 52 46 500

Log on to the database About SA ePublications

Libraries help close digital divide but struggle to sustain public access computing services

A new report finds public libraries have helped close the digital divide by providing free, public access to computers and the Internet, particularly for people without access at home or work. Yet despite widespread awareness of and support for library-based public access computing, libraries face significant challenges in sustaining and improving this service.

Among the findings from the report, which draws from government statistics and independent research: 95% of libraries now offer public access computing, compared to only 28% in 1996; 14 million Americans regularly use public access computers; nationwide, total visits to the library increased 17% between 1996-2001; African Americans and Hispanics are twice as likely to use library computers as Asian Americans and whites; families making less than $15,000 annually are two to three times more likely to rely on library computers than those earning more than $75,000.

Despite these benefits, libraries face serious challenges as they continue to provide access to digital information. In keeping pace with ever-evolving technology, libraries often lack sufficient resources and technical support to upgrade computer hardware, software and Internet connections and for training to assist patrons and troubleshoot equipment.

The report, “Toward Equality of Access: The Role of Public Libraries in Addressing the Digital Divide,” was developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with the AARP, ALA, Beaumont Foundation of America, Benton Foundation, IMLS, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, National League of Cities and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Pew Internet & American Life Project, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, served as research advisers.

View the report
Announcement

QuestionPoint part of pilot to provide virtual reference, online information to visually impaired

Visually impaired persons in select libraries around the United States are participating in a six-month pilot project to test an online information and virtual reference service designed specifically for their needs. The service will be offered through InfoEyes, a virtual reference and information community for the visually impaired.

Through the pilot project, visually impaired patrons will use QuestionPoint to work with librarians virtually to find what they’re seeking on the Internet. QuestionPoint, the collaborative virtual reference service developed by the Library of Congress and OCLC, helps librarians track and manage questions from patrons through a network of reference librarians around the world.

Full story

OCLC welcomes the following new member libraries

La Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León—Facultad de Ingeniería Civil
Location: San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
OCLC Symbol: MXFIC
OCLC Network: OCLC Latin America & the Caribbean

La Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León—Facultad de Agronomía
Location: Marin, Nuevo León, Mexico
OCLC Symbol: MXFDG
OCLC Network: OCLC Latin America & the Caribbean

La Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León—Facultad de Arquitectura
Location: San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
OCLC Symbol: MXFDA
OCLC Network: OCLC Latin America & the Caribbean

Membership guidelines and protocols

WorldCat update

Every 12 seconds an OCLC member library adds a new record to WorldCat, which contains more than 54 million records representing 914,138,220 holding locations as of March 6, 2004. Every 4 seconds an OCLC member library fills an interlibrary loan request using WorldCat, which has supported 133,961,772 interlibrary loan requests as of March 6, 2004. A library user searches WorldCat using the OCLC FirstSearch service every second.

See the latest WorldCat record

Subscribe/Unsubscribe | Questions/Comments

OCLC Abstracts uses the Internet to deliver timely information about OCLC services, programs, news and events directly to subscribers' desktops. This e-journal augments and complements OCLC's Web site and print communications.