This message will be cross-posted to several lists and I apologise for any
duplication this causes.

                      Conference Announcement
                      -----------------------

                  "THE WORKSTATION IS THE LIBRARY: 
     THE INFORMATION WORKSTATION AS INTERFACE TO THE DIGITAL LIBRARY"

           A two-day, non-residential international symposium 
                    on current projects and issues
             to be held at the RSA Conference Centre London
with demonstrations at the Learning Resources Centre South Bank University

                        Monday/Tuesday, 24/25 March 1997

                    Fee (non-residential): 80 pounds sterling 
               to include 2 lunches, 1 dinner and RSA Centre tour

At a recent international conference a university library director from
Sweden said quite simply: "Today, the library is the workstation".
   Many libraries are offering access in their reading rooms to a variety
of electronic resources, including OPACs, CD-ROMs, specialised databases
and the Internet.  One of the major problems involved in the 
implementation of this access has been the issue of the compatibility of
hardware and software platforms.  Each system requires a separate
operating environment and therefore often in practice separate hardware.
This duplication is clearly wasteful of space and resources as well as
being confusing to the user.  One solution to this problem is the
development and implementation of a single interface to any given
library's networked resources, providing users with seamless access to a
range of systems and services.  This type of interface is sometimes called
the "scholar's workstation" or "information workstation".

The British Library Research and Innovation Centre's symposium in March
1997 will consider the opportunities and challenges the workstation model
presents.  One of these challenges will be to ensure that the requirements
of users are fully taken into account while the implications for library
operations are not neglected.
   Over two full days, demonstrations and presentations will be given by
project leaders from (among others) the National Library of The
Netherlands, Yale University Library, South Bank University's Library
Information Technology Centre, Stirling University's Scholar's Workstation
Project, the National Library of Germany, and De Montfort University.

On behalf of the BLRIC, the conference will be organised by UKOLN.
Bookings should be made with Hazel Gott at UKOLN (contact details below)
quoting the following information:- name, job title, institution,
institution's postal address, tel/fax numbers, email address, and any
dietary requirements (including vegetarian).  Payment can be made by
cheque or credit card (not American Express or Diners Club), or you can
request an invoice.

This information and an on-line booking form is also at URL:
http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/events/workstation/

If you would like further information, or have any specific queries,
please contact either myself (details below) or Graham Jefcoate at BLRIC
([log in to unmask]).

Hazel

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*  Hazel Gott                                                             *
*  Promotions Officer                                                     *
*  UKOLN (United Kingdom Office for Library and Information Networking)   *
*  The Library, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY         *
*  Tel: 01225 826256;  Fax: 01225 826838;  [log in to unmask]           *
*  URL: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk                                            *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *






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