Summary The ongoing movement to electronic collections presents many exciting new service opportunities for libraries, as well as creating materials management, resource, and service challenges. This book looks at how online resources are causing the roles and practices of libraries to change. This book looks at new practices in managing electronic materials. It considers changes to practice which libraries, e-materials providers and software provider need to make together to meet the challenges and maximize the benefits of electronic materials. The book focuses on better integrated and more automated approaches which are becoming essential to provide more complete and seamless access to library materials. Key Features Forward looking consideration of critical emerging issues in library practice Draws on the author"s wide knowledge of electronic content management issues Presents a practical perspective based on the authors long standing experience Discusses Innovative electronic resource services being successfully used by many libraries Presents the exciting new approaches to electronic resource management being introduced The Author Peter Webster. Is systems Librarian for the Saint Mary"s University in Halifax, Canada. Member of the Systems and Operations Committee of the Nova Scotia academic library consortium NOVANET, and the Steering Committee of the Atlantic Scholarly Information Network (ASIN). He has over 25 years experience in libraries and library systems. He has written often on library automation related issues such as federated searching, integrating online information, library resource sharing networks, and remote patron validation and library proxy servers online reference materials. He as has been a presenter at library conferences including LITA National Forum, ACCESS, ALA, CLA, and APLA. Readership The book is aimed at librarians, library policy makers" and students, as well as e-content and service vendors, and everyone who are interested in the developing electronic content environment, the changes it is bringing about in library practice. Contents Introduction Universal discovery and access to information The library catalogue and the new role of distributed electronic content tools Electronic content products - materials management and integration The ILS and the challenges of electronic materials Whither the OPAC: new models for the primary library search interface Still too many search interfaces: wrestling with old and new Innovative interfaces, new interfaces, search services, toolbars, lookups and widgets End-to-end integration and a seamless user experience Net size, bigger and better partnerships, and getting others to share the work Library application services for information exchange: more and less than web services More elements of the integrated information environment Conclusions References Index