Public library networking: an overview

It is usual in the VINE overview to commence with some kind of definition of the theme being covered. This time however the title appears straightforward (none of those obscure acronyms) and understandable. Nevertheless, what do we understand by public library networking? Many public libraries have been networked locally for many years; many have also operated various forms of regional networks for many years. However these kind of networks no longer count as real networking, in the age of the Internet. What is being considered in this issue is the linking of the public libraries to the global networks, or the eventual so‐called Information Superhighway (or was it the Super Information Highway, as one MP unfortunately blundered last week). In fact the nomenclature makes little difference because it does not yet exist, according to considered opinion. However the concept of the information superhighway is fully examined in the article following this, so will not be pursued here.