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Examines the SchoolMatch database on CD‐ROM, which enables parents and educators to evaluate choices about schools. Discusses how schools are profiled (according to expenditure per pupil, tax base, special educational programmes etc), and how these profiles can be used to locate schools by region for parents either choosing a school or trying to find a school with a new system. Surmises that the database is also valuable to teachers looking for jobs, and since it is on CD, it can be easily offered by libraries with CD drives.

Reports on a conference held in 1989 in Wisconsin, which focused on the topic of providing better access to information for people with disabilities. According to the author, the conference concentrated mainly on those with vision‐related difficulties. Summarizes two of the speeches made at the conference and examines some of the technology on display. Stresses the need for adaptive technology to enable people with a disability to access the increasing amounts of computer technology in everyday life.

Examines the capabilities of the CAT CD450 cataloguing system originally developed to contain costs for smaller OCLC member libraries. Describes the features of CAT CD450, as well as cost‐saving benefits, workflow flexibility, new search options, label printing options, cut‐and‐paste and windowing functions, and other user‐specific advantages that have been reported.

Examines recent studies of maximum expected disc life and the implications for archive storage on CD‐ROM. Discusses the manufacture and structure of compact discs, the phenomenon of disc rot, how discs can be ruined in use, and some actions which can reduce the risk of damage to compact discs. Concludes that when CD becomes a widespread archival medium, they will have to be treated as carefully as other media, although the problem of disc rot is beyond the purchasers′ control.

Full‐Service Union List Subsystem. On July 1, 1990, OCLC opened the Union List Subsystem to non‐serial local data records (LDRs). This new capability allows libraries to create local data records for all MARC formats, not just serial items.

Examines the notion of using the CAT CD450 system in retrospective conversion and the research carried out by the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority to determine whether this would be of use to a research library. Presents the findings of the research in terms of time, language, etc. Concludes that the CAT CD450 database may have substantial versatility and that further examination is justified.

OCLC will begin shipping the M386sx Workstation on January 1,1991. The M386sx Workstation is based on an 80386sx processor operating at 16Mhz (switch selectable to 8Mhz). This product introduction is a result of technology life cycles and steadily improving price/performance ratios in the microcomputer industry. PASSPORT Software will be distributed with this workstation.

OCLC currently supports only DOS versions 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3, although IBM recently released PC‐DOS version 4.01. The following problems are known to exist with PC‐DOS 4.01 and OCLC products

In 1985, DePaul University established an “electronic” library at the O'Hare Campus (formerly Northwest Center) in Des Plaines, IL, with a dial‐access OCLC M300 Workstation equipped with a Hayes Smart‐modem 1200 and Smartcom II software as well as OCLC Terminal Software, version 3.0. At O'Hare, we use the OCLC Online System primarily for searching and then only when patrons' needs cannot be met through LCS (Illinois' statewide Library Computer System). Therefore, the terminal is not in heavy use. However, because it is a public access terminal, it is important that logon procedures be simple.

On April 2, 1987, IBM unveiled a series of long‐awaited new hardware and software products. The new computer line, dubbed the Personal Systems 30, 50, 60, and 80, seems destined to replace the XT and AT models that are the mainstay of the firm's current personal computer offerings. The numerous changes in hardware and software, while representing improvements on previous IBM technology, will require users purchasing additional computers to make difficult choices as to which of the two IBM architectures to adopt.