Computer supported cooperative work and libraries

This paper describes how an area of computer science research, Computer Supported Cooperative Work, can be applied to world of libraries. Collaborative activities can be described by whether they occur in the same time and in the same place. These activities can be broadly arranged into three groups depending on the participants: staff‐staff, user‐staff and user‐user interactions. Applying computer technology to these activities requires careful consideration of the work practices involved and the costs and benefits of any changes.