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Meckler Publishing has announced the acquisition of Micro Software Reports and Micro Software Evaluations from Nolan Information Management Services of Torrance, California. Alan M. Meckler, President of Meckler Publishing, stated that “Micro Software Reports is the world's largest and most comprehensive index to microcomputer software with specific library applications”. He went on to say that “the publication indexes 110 library and computer oriented journals concentrating on information that includes pricing, installation locations and complete system descriptions”.

When you next receive this newsletter it will be called Campus‐Wide Information Systems. The new name also brings with it a new design and format. Campus‐Wide Information Systems will become a bimonthly magazine featuring many of the columnists that now appear in this newsletter. The magazine format will allow greater use of photography including color covers featuring college and university CWIS buildings. We are pleased that M publishing the only magazine in North America devoted to the rapidly developing world of campus‐wide computing. We thank you for supporting Academic And Library Computing and are sure that you will find Campus‐Wide Information Systems to be even more informative and stimulating.

As a publisher of newsletters, magazines, and books in information technology and as a conference organizer in these areas, Meckler is dedicated to serving librarians, information end‐users and specialists, and the information industry as a whole, on all aspects of computer‐based technology.

Reports on sessions at the 1992 American Society for Information Science annual conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Includes recent developments in electronic refereed journals and the future of electronic publishing. Considers some of the implications for libraries of the growth in full‐text electronic publications and strategies for implementation and access. Finally, looks at future roles for academics, publisher and other users.

Monitoring System Performance. This is the final installment of a multipart article on resource usage issues in library automation systems. The first three parts dealt with specifying resource usage and performance goals. This article will deal with monitoring system performance. Most system monitoring in the current library automation world is anecdotal. The person responsible for the system receives a telephone call, or many calls, indicating that the system is not performing properly. Usually, that is the sum total statement of performance. By the time an individual actually becomes frustrated enough to call about the system's degraded performance, their perception of the problem has generally grown far worse that the problem actually is. Yet, in many cases, the perception is what really matters and it is often quite impossible to budge people from that perception once it is formed.

VTLS to Create Online Catalog for Virginia. The Virginia State Library and Archives in Richmond, which has used the VTLS integrated online library system software since 1983, has contracted with VTLS, Inc., for the CAVALIR ONLINE Database Creation Project. The goal of the project is to create an online union catalog containing holdings of all participating libraries in Virginia.

Microsoft Bookshelf has been heavily promoted for months. Microsoft Corporation, a computer software heavyweight, has decided to take a leadership position in the CD‐ROM arena. In an attempt to convince the general public (read: the business user) that CD‐ROM works and is worthwhile, it has put forth a product designed to appeal to a broad range of users as opposed to a narrow and less profitable market segment (read: libraries).

Briefly discusses the first steps taken by a medium size public library into the use of electronic ordering. Examines the relative merits of Flashback software for bulk orders and BT Comm software with user friendly interface. Stresses the frustrations encountered with new technology, in particular technical jargon.

With the increased use of microcomputers in the day‐to‐day operations of libraries, more and more library staff are experiencing a common phenomenon: surprise. Sometimes the surprise is a pleasant one, as when the user discovers the ease of typing with word‐wrap, or perhaps the speed of a spreadsheet recalculating after an entry has been changed.

Copyright Clouds Multimedia Prospects. Imagine a computer program that gives a fire department an edge in dealing with hazardous spills, toxic materials threatening life and property — where a quick and accurate response literally has consequences for thousands. This program stores information on thousands of chemicals from manuals and technical treatises. By selecting an icon of a map, an entire city comes up on the screen with details on the locations of schools, hospitals, and businesses. With another click of a mouse, the program calculates the direction of the plume from a leak and provides clues to arrest the accident and move citizens out of harm's way.