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Bookmobiles have been an important part of public library service for over a century. Traditionally they have delivered recreational reading material, but new technologies now make it possible for high‐tech bookmobiles to provide a full range of information services. Telecommunications options such as mobile data radio, cellular telephone, and the use of satellites make online circulation, database searching, and facsimile service feasible for library mobile units. Optical disc and other compact storage technologies as well as state‐of‐the‐art navigation systems also have bookmobile applications. Unfortunately, the high cost of technology, particularly for mobile telecommunications, is among the problems delaying the development and commonplace use of ‘electronic bookmobiles’.

FINNISH ARCHITECTURE has won fame and honour. This applies to the best of it, of course, the achievements suitable for export and as a trade mark. Our world image tells nothing of our middling, ordinary buildings. Finland probably has just as many deficiently planned and poorly implemented monstrosities as most other countries. But it is probably characteristic that the end product is technically quite polished. The building regulations are exceptionally precise, partly because of our harsh climate, partly because of the bureaucratic tradition of our administrative machinery.

As non‐traditiona! entry to higher education increases, combined with high quality distance education and parttime learning opportunities which create an emphasis on the concept of “lifelong learning”, the demand for learning resources and library services in all communities will increase. Provided that public libraries can rise to the inherent challenges in meeting the needs of lifelong learners, they will become the institution of choice for the general public for support of learning and education, offering prospective learners potential access to a wide range of high quality learning resources, no matter where they, or the resources, may be geographically situated. In this, by taking advantage of the advances of technology, the mobile library may expand its traditional role and be a major player in repositioning the library as an information broker in support of lifelong learning in remote or marginalised communities.

This paper aims to highlight recent and near-future innovations relating to mobile access that can facilitate new interactions between patrons and libraries.

This paper explores mobile hotspots that allow library patrons to “check out” the Internet to access a world of information, as well as the related technologies on the horizon that are poised to transform Internet access worldwide. Innovative libraries and vendors are catching up to the implications of “mobile” beyond the Web interface and are making their collections and technological offerings available using re-envisioned bookmobiles, servers and library circulation modules.

This paper finds that, by using new and cleverly reconfigured technology, libraries can continue to play a central role in the sharing of information in an increasingly mobile world.

This paper demonstrates that the technological infrastructure that supports mobile libraries will continue to develop and expand access to information around the globe.

WHEN THE LIBRARY WORLD asked me for a letter from Finland, I was very glad, for I like writing letters. To me it is a pleasure to write letters. Of course it is equally pleasant to receive letters, and I hope that we can soon receive a letter from Great Britain as a reply for our journal Kirjastolehti.

SPECIAL NUMBERS OUR SPECIAL NUMBER on Indian libraries and librarianship issued in March was very well received and we have had letters and comments from librarians both in Britain and the United States. Thanks are due to our Indian contributors for helping us to produce the issue. The policy of publishing special numbers of The Library World is to continue and the August issue will be devoted to library development in Nigeria. Later this year we plan special issues on the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, and on South Africa.

Greenbacks for Denver PL. The Denver Public Library has received a federal grant of nearly $24,000 to increase services to the growing elderly population in Denver. The “Senior Reach” program will include bookmobile visits to senior residential centers, the purchase of publications and tapes of special interest to older citizens, and cooperative ventures with community agencies. The program, funded by the Library Services and Construction Act, is in response to a 1987 study which found that the library should increase services to the 17.5 percent of Denver's population over 60.

Balancing the books continues to challenge America's libraries faced with both higher demand for service and budgets that are often flat or shrinking in the Information Age.