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In May 1996, the City of Edinburgh Council received the Society of Public Information Networks — EPl Today award for excellence and innovation in electronic public information for its council information system, CapInfo ‘96. The award is in its inaugural year and CapInfo ‘96 has effectively set a benchmark for other public information systems to follow. This article looks at the history of the Capital Information project — a Libraries project (developed by the Community Information Service) which was adopted by the then Edinburgh District Council for the decentralisation of council information. The article then details the first phase of the project from 1993–5, the strategy and the technology, and goes on to describe the recent restructuring and launch of CapInfo ‘96 for the new unitary authority, the City of Edinburgh Council. Finally, it considers the future of Capital Information and electronic information in public libraries.

ALTHOUGH the first Public Libraries (Scotland) Act was placed on the Statute Book in 1853, it was not until 1899 that the Corporation of the City of Glasgow was empowered to establish and maintain public libraries throughout the city. Between 1876 and 1897 four attempts were made to secure public approval for the adoption of the Public Libraries (Scotland) Acts, but when all these efforts proved unsuccessful, the Corporation decided in June, 1888 to include in a Local Bill for submission to Parliament, certain clauses conferring upon themselves the power to become a library authority. Promoted in 1899, the Bill became known as the Glasgow Corporation (Tramways, Libraries, etc.) Act 1899, and the library clauses passed through Parliament without opposition and received Royal Assent on 1st August, 1899. The powers conferred by this Local Act empowered the Corporation:

The purpose of this paper is to describe the multi-agency approach adopted in Liberton/Gilmerton, Edinburgh in Scotland to positively involve young people in shaping local service provision and to tackle rising anti-social behaviour. The approach and methodology of the engagement process used is described in detail in order to enable other authorities and services to learn from established practice.

The approach was developed over two years and saw the expression of over 1,500 young people’s views, which influenced 40 local statutory and voluntary services to deliver on over 70 pledges locally to improve service provision in direct response to expressed need.

The paper summarises the positive outcomes delivered as a result of the work which has transformed the way that partners plan, design and deliver their services locally, and has resulted in many significant outcomes including a 17 per cent drop in youth crime, young people opening their own Youth Cafe, and launching their annual YouthTalk Awards Event. The initiative has been held up by the HMIe as a model of best practice, and is being replicated across the city through other library locations as a successful way to engage young people in improving the quality of life in their communities.

The paper includes implications for the development of library and other services to work in an integrated way to positively engage with young people in order for them to be included in decision-making processes.

This paper contributes to the studies on best practice in working positively with young people.

This paper describes the three main phases of automation at the National Library of Scotland. During Phase I (1978–85) NLS was a member of the British Library's Local Cataloguing Service (LOCAS), submitting forms for keypunching prior to the production of a COM catalogue. During Phase II (1985—87) data was input online to the computer at NLS and then was transmitted to LOCAS. The use of the VTLS (Virginia Tech Library System) systems forms Phase III (1988—). The current applications, cataloguing (including downloading and authority control) and use of OPAC are discussed along with systems information. Future plans for automation in NLS are listed.

This paper discusses cross‐sectoral collaboration in procuring and implementing a new library management system. After a historical review of collaboration in this area in the UK and other countries, it focuses on the joint purchase of the Voyager system (supplied by Endeavor Information Systems Inc.) by Edinburgh University and the National Library of Scotland. The differing missions and automation histories of the two institutions are discussed, followed by a practical summary of the procurement and implementation processes. The theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages of this form of collaborative approach between academic and government organisations are described.

VINE is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of library house‐keeping processes, principally in the UK. It is edited and substantially written by the Information Officer for Library Automation based in Southampton University Library and supported by a grant from the British Library Research and Development Department. Copyright for VINE articles rests with the British Library Board, but opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription for VINE is £17 per annum and the period runs from January to December.

VINE is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of library housekeeping processes, principally in the UK. It is edited and substantially written by the Information Officer for Library Automation based in Southampton University Library and supported by a grant from the British Library Research and Development Department. Copyright for the articles rests with the British Library Board and opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription for 1984 to VINE is: £23 for UK subscribers, £26 to overseas subscribers (including airmail delivery). Second and subsequent copies to the same address are charged at £14 for UK and £16 for overseas. VINE is available in either paper or microfiche copy and all back issues are available on microfiche.

As part of the research underpinning an Honours dissertation a study of the agencies providing European information in Scotland was carried out in the spring of 1994. The aims of this study were to investigate the nature of the services offered by the existing agencies, to consider their accessibility and geographic spread, and to determine the extent of the interaction which took place between these agencies. The study sought to provide a broad picture of provision across a physically large geographic area. Given the relatively few agencies involved, visits were made to each and structured interviews were carried out with staff.

VINE is produced at least four times a year with the object of providing up‐to‐date news of work being done in the automation of library housekeeping processes, principally in the UK. It is edited and substantially written by Tony McSean, Information Officer for Library Automation based in Southampton University Library and supported by a grant from the British Library Research and Development Department. Copyright for VINE articles rests with the British Library Board, but opinions expressed in VINE do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the British Library. The subscription to VINE is £10 per year and the subscription period runs from January to December.

The history and development of library co‐operation in Scotland is described in some detail from 1921 when the Scottish Central Library for Students was established to the amalgamation of the Scottish Central Library with the National Library of Scotland in 1974. The present situation has been much complicated by the re‐organisation of local government in Scotland. Catalogues have been or are being rationalised. The National Library has also now agreed to lend items from its stock which greatly improves the back‐up service it can provide to the British Library Lending Division. As in other countries considerable advances are being made in the field of automation and the Scottish Libraries Co‐operative Automation Project (SCOLCAP) uses both UK and LC MARK tapes. Developments are also taking place in local co‐operation and non‐postal transport schemes similar to those in England and Wales.