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The small library frequently presents an inadequate justification for the installation of an integrated library system. The “average” costs of system components—including hardware, software, and related expenses—are outlined to assist in projecting the costs of a small system. The potential benefits of a system—the areas in which operational costs can be reduced through the use of an integrated library system—are also reviewed. The realistic projecting of costs and potential long‐term savings (through increased performance and efficiency) will form the basis for justifying an integrated library system.

More than 1,300 large integrated library systems are installed in the EC (European Community) member countries. This figure represents a growth rate of more than 525% over the last five years. New suppliers have achieved some 36% of the market. The number of suppliers of large integrated systems has increased from 12 in 1986 to more than 30. More than 3,600 small integrated systems have been installed by some 40 different suppliers shown in a study carried out in 1991 as background for the Commission of the European Communities (CEC) action under the Libraries Programme. Brief details of the main systems used in the 12 EC countries are given.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) management systems are an important component in the document supply process. They manage, at a local level, the various processes associated with requesting and obtaining documents. There may be links with other component systems, such as location/messaging systems, facilitated by various telecommunications networks, and integrated library housekeeping systems, for ongoing local control. ILL management systems can run as stand‐alone systems or as part of integrated housekeeping systems. Integration can offer, via the circulation module, ongoing control of interlibrary loans, in addition to loans from the library′s own stock, using the same borrower file. It may also be possible to request ILL items via the on‐line catalogue if the user has failed to find an item in stock. Functions which can be automated include: input and transmission of requests; receipt and loan; returns; overdues and recalls; renewals; reports and reapplications; chasers; and cancellations. Systems can also provide management information and control the loan of items to other libraries. In the UK, the links to networks are used, in the main, for transmission of requests, to BLDSC via ARTTel, or via e‐mail to other libraries. BLDSC is the major source for inter‐lending in the UK, and the volume of requests to other libraries is small; however, as network links increase, ILL will become less centralized and there will be greater traffic between libraries for the purposes of ILL.

The available literature suggest that the research on radio frequency identification (RFID)-related issues is largely concentrated on technical, organizational and implementation aspects, and comparatively lesser attention has been invested in understanding the use aspect of such library management systems. The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding into the factors that influence the use of RFID systems in the library context by empirically testing the relevant constructs from the extended technology acceptance model (TAM).

A questionnaire-based survey approach was employed for collecting the relevant data from 197 respondents. The respondents were the active users of a RFID-based library system.

Findings from this study suggested that perceived usefulness and system quality positively influence the user attitude, and user attitude and system quality significantly influence the use of the RFID services. The paper concludes with outlining the salient points, limitations, and future research directions.

The paper evaluates the role of a set of innovation attributes on the acceptance of RFID integrated systems in libraries. Owing to the scant literature availability in empirical investigations on adoption of RFID systems in libraries, the findings from this paper add value to the existing literature in this field, and also to the literature on the TAM model, with the empirical findings being of use to the aspirant libraries looking toward integrating RFID enabled systems.

Brodart Automation offers a wide range of services and products from microcomputer to online. In July 1985, Brodart introduced the first CD‐ROM‐based public access catalog, which was designed to compete with COM and online catalogs. Currently, Brodart is applying its creativity to adapting library services to global networks. Its vision and commitment are reflected in the team approach to product development and support.

The purpose of this paper is to review the integrated systems applications in Kuwaiti academic libraries with a particular emphasis on their profiles, procurement, implementation, management and service aspects.

The survey method was employed for the study. Procedures used were as follows: identification of Kuwaiti academic libraries; preparation and testing of survey instrument; physical visits and administration of the instruments; interpreting the instruments and having them filled out in one‐to‐one encounters; analysis of data; and write‐up and reporting.

Three of the six Kuwaiti higher education institutions were established during the last decade. Five of the six academic libraries are using an integrated system. Cataloging applications are almost complete in all the surveyed libraries. The circulation module has not been in use in the largest university library. Serials management is not optimally utilized in the surveyed libraries. The library managers are mostly satisfied with hardware/software, vendor support, physical facilities, and funding opportunities. There are opportunities for networking, system‐integration, and full utilization of management reporting aspects of these systems.

The study does not assess the technical aspects of automated systems. Portals and digital library initiatives have not been covered in this study.

Academic libraries in the region may take useful clues from these findings for developing and managing their automated systems.

Since no similar study has been conducted in Kuwait, it enhances the understanding of the prevailing situation about the use of integrated systems and their applications in the country.

The history of automation in the libraries of the University of Michigan is outlined and a detailed study is presented of the strategic planning and implementation of the MIRLYN integrated library system. Emphasis is also placed on the evolution of new management structures in the Library to deal successfully with, and driven by, the new system.

In this article we review the development of Integrated Library Management Systems, and look at some broad trends in their development. More and more core functions and special features have been integrated into library systems, and there has been a move towards industry standard databases, operating systems and architecture. The second part of the article looks at more aspirational library system designs, that reflect libraries' new needs in the light of the electronic publishing revolution and the open source software movement.

Part I (in the previous issue of TEL) discussed how the changing library network environment and the trend towards decentralization and local, integrated systems was having an adverse affect on the growth of the bibliographic utilities. In this article, the reasons why the bibliographic utilities no longer dominate the North American library automation scene in quite the same way as before are summarized and their responses to the changing conditions and challenges brought about by microcomputers, integrated library systems and increased knowledge that libraries have about computers are discussed. Their responses can be viewed as a four part thrust: a move to distributed processing systems, participation in the Linked Systems Project; the introduction of new and improved services; and international ventures.

Standards are important in all areas of library automation. Standards will facilitate the linking of different types of systems within one library as well as systems that perform similar functions in different libraries. Stephen Salmon (Carlyle), George Sidman (INLEX), Richard Woods (Biblio‐Techniques), Mike Monahan (Geac), Richard Goldberg (CLSI), Stephen M. Silberstein (Innovative Interfaces), and M.E.L. Jacob (OCLC) express their views on existing standards, and the need for and probable course for developing additional standards.