Developing library collections for a wired world

Volume 20, Number 6 • June 2000

Developing library collections for a wired world
by Janet L. Balas

ONLINE TREASURES column reports that library content development is changing from owning a title to being able to provide electronic access to it. States that Project Gutenberg began in 1971 and has 2,500 e-texts available through its ftp sites. Explains that e-texts can be read on any system, while e-books may require special peripherals or software, or a hand-held computer. Describes the Glassbook Reader software, and the Glassbook Library Server, a Web-based system. Adds that the company is working on a solution for Macintosh, Linux, and Windows CE users. Notes that netLibrary also offers e-books to end-users and libraries, and its site provides online chat 24x7. Mentions an exhibit of future reading devices at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA, and an online guide entitled XFR. Includes three screen displays and one list of references.