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Reviews the higher education movement and the development of universities in Jordan. Reports a study aimed at exploring the effect of automation on academic libraries, organizational structure and technical and administrative services. The study sample constituted 20 libraries. All of 17 (85 per cent) respondent libraries are computerized. Six (35.3 per cent) use MINISIS, nine (52.9 per cent) use CDS/ISIS and two (11.8 per cent) use customized packages. Systems are mostly utilized in technical processing, reference services, bibliographies and acquisitions. The effect which automation has produced on technical and administrative services is evidenced by the establishment of a department for computer applications in nine (52.8 per cent) libraries, the motives of staff and users to use the systems and their satisfaction and acceptance of this technology.The study stressed the need to develop software packages conducive to the Arab libraries, particular needs, plans for academic training, and the necessity for a network linkage, both locally and internationally.

Practically speaking, it could be said that it was not until the 1950s that the modern library movement started in Jordan when professionally trained staff did not exceed a handful of librarians since librarianship was a low‐priority career field. Libraries and archives, and information and documentation centres now exist and what has been accomplished must be judged in the perspective of the short life of the library movement in the country, the conditions of Jordan as a developing country with limited resources, and the attitude of the people towards librarianship as a profession.

Reviews the extent of Internet utilisation in Jordanian university libraries. Discusses: its use, benefits, services, and applications; the effect on acquisitions, the libraries’ organisational structure, administration, cost, and services; problems and solutions. The study investigated 13 libraries linked to the Internet. They employ it for technical functions, information services, and Web pages. Head librarians perceive the Internet as a supplement to libraries’ collections, as a substitute for databases on CD‐ROMs, and a way of saving on subscription charges for printed journals, but not as a replacement for printed books. They perceive the Internet’s main administrative effect is on staff’s satisfaction, motives, speed and ease of services, users’ satisfaction, and turnouts, but it has the least effect on libraries’ budgets. Lack of experience, misconceptions about the Internet, misuse of Web sites, information inauthenticity, censorship, copyright, insufficient high quality terminals, and language problems are, inter alia, prime reasons limiting the optimal use of the Internet.

The study is concerned with gathering factual data on the use of local online information systems, automation, online connections, online public access catalogs (OPACs), CD‐ROM‐based systems in 19 Jordanian university libraries.

Information was sought through a written questionnaire; personal interviews; literature review, and field visits. The implementation of local online information systems; OPACs, CD‐ROM databases, online searching, networks/databases subscribed to, methods of online services to users, problems and solutions are investigated.

Of the 18 (94.7 percent) libraries responded, half (50 percent) are using MINISIS or CDS/ISIS, one‐third (33.3 percent) is using either M2L, or ORACLE based systems, and 3 (16.7 percent) are using locally designed packages. Technical processing, information retrieval, circulation, reference services, and serial control are the prime systems functions. All respondents are linked to the internet. A total of 15 (83.3 percent) respondents have developed collections of databases on CD‐ROMs; 11 (73.3 percent) use single‐ access, and four (26.7 percent) use multi‐user systems.

Online services are provided mostly by traditional means. Lack of skilled staff, shortages of fund, and insufficient hardware are prime obstacles hindering systems optimal utilization. Outdated databases, cost, and users incompetence are problems limiting the optimal use of online systems. Developing intranet, funding, trained manpower, training courses to users, sharing subscription expenses in electronic full‐text database, and promote cooperation to exchange OPACs records through the internet, are suggested solutions to overcome these problems.

Academic libraries in Jordan are changing emphasis from ownership of information sources in printed forms, to the access to online databases or local area networks systems based on CD‐ROMs, to linkage with the internet as a prime gateway to information sources.