ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


M arch 1 9 9 7  /  149

Visit the Web site at http://fdncenter.org or 
e-mail a m essage to the online librarian at 
library@fdncenter.org. Most queries are an­
swered within two business days.

R LG  d a ta b a s e s  n o w  a v a ila b le  on W e b
The Research Libraries Group (RLG) opened a 
new searching option to its RLIN bibliographic 
database, CitaDel citation files, and English Short 
Title Catalogue (ESTC). Eureka, RLG’s user-
friendly searching interface, now makes all of 
them available through Web browsers.

Patricia Renfro, director o f public services 
for the University o f Pennsylvania, welcomed 
the new service: “In the last two to three years, 
networks campuswide and worldwide have 
becom e a major change agent in higher educa­
tion— in how people learn, teach, and interact. 
Equipped with the necessary connectivity and 
ease of use, users now are challenging their 
librarians to supply them with good informa­
tion through a well-organized, smart interface, 
around the clock. RLG’s new W eb version of 
Eureka will help us to do just that.”

For more information about Eureka on the 
Web, including actual demonstration search ses­
sions, visit www.rlg.org/eurekaweb.html. To 
learn about Eureka search accounts for indi­
viduals, departments, or campuswide use con­
tact RLG at bl.sal@rlg.org or call (800) 537-RLIN, 
option 3 .

C a ll fo r p re se n ta tio n s fo r o ff-ca m p u s 
lib r a r y  se rvice s
Presentation proposals are sought for the 8th Off-
Campus Library Services Conference sponsored 
by Central Michigan University (CMU) Libraries 
and CMU’s Extended Degree Programs. The con­
ference, to be held April 22– 24, 1998, will be in 
Providence, Rhode Island. Proposals are sought 
for papers, panels, poster sessions, and forums 
on topics such as administration, promotion, out­
comes, staffing, etc. The call for presentations is 
available from Connie Hildebrand, Park Library 
313, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, 
MI 48859; e-mail connie.hildebrand@cmich.edu. 
Proposals submitted by March 15, 1997, will re­
ceive first consideration.

A m e rica n  lib r a r ia n s  v is it  N orthern Ire la n d
From January 25 to February 5 a contin­

gent o f 14 American librarians toured librar­
ies and archival collections in Northern Ire­
land and met with Irish co lleagu es. The 
Americans represented a cross section o f in­
stitutions from the U.S. and visited a similar 
cross section o f Irish institutions.

This library tour was sponsored by the Brit­
ish Council and is part of an ongoing effort to 
promote a balanced view o f Northern Ireland 
and its political context. The tour was based 
in Belfast, with day trips to view collections 
throughout the country. Included in the tour 
were an introduction to the politics o f North­
ern Ireland and a visit to the parts o f Belfast 
that have seen the most damage from 25 years 
o f civil unrest. The British Council clearly sup­
ports the English presence in Northern Ire­
land, but tour participants enjoyed frank and 
open discussions o f Irish politics and the im­
pact o f “The Troubles” on funding for Irish 
libraries and public institutions.

Participants were treated to evenings o f 
theater, storytelling, and receptions by both

the Northern Ireland Library Association and 
the British Council’s office. The tour provided 
a valuable overview o f the priceless library 
and archival collections held by various in­
stitutions in Northern Ireland including the 
University o f Ulster and Q ueen ’s University, 
two major institutions o f higher learning. All 
libraries have strong Irish collections but, due 
to the introduction of technology, OCLC, and 
the Birmingham Library Cooperative Mecha­
nization Project network, materials o f all types 
are easily accessible to all users in the United 
Kingdom.

For information on upcoming study tours 
and opportunities for the pursuit o f individual 
projects in Northern Ireland contact Kathy 
Culpin, Cultural Affairs Assistant, Northern Ire­
land Cultural Programme, The British Coun­
cil, Cultural Department, The British Embassy, 
3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20008-3600; (202) 588-6500; fax (202) 588-
7918; http://www.britcoun.org/usa.— A n n  
S n oeyenbos, New York University, a n d  K. N. 
S h arm a , West Virginia State C ollege

http://fdncenter.org
mailto:library@fdncenter.org
http://www.rlg.org/eurekaweb.html
mailto:bl.sal@rlg.org
mailto:connie.hildebrand@cmich.edu
http://www.britcoun.org/usa.%e2%80%94Ann