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Georgetown University recently designed a prototype digital full‐text system to provide clinicians and researchers with electronically transmitted journal articles that include illustrations. The system enables health practitioners to quickly search a database and retrieve full‐text articles with the touch of a few keys. It includes new technical methods of storing, transmitting, and delivering documents electronically using a small test base in cancer and genetics. The project goals are to accelerate the library's ability to deliver full‐text documents in the clinical setting and to improve knowledge management and library services by using advanced technologies. The objectives are 1) to design and maintain a digital full‐text database of articles with illustrations; 2) to develop, test, and modify the storage/retrieval system and transmission technology; and 3) to provide users with access to the full‐text system and evaluate its usefulness and applicability.

The Georgetown University Medical Center Library was awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant in collaboration with the Physiology Department of the Medical School to create an “electronic textbook.” The purpose of the project is to enhance learning and visualization by developing a prototype knowledge base of core instructional materials stored in digitized format on Macintosh computers. This self‐instructional program is based on the principle that certain physiological concepts need to be translated by the human brain into dynamic images from the static pictures and words with which they are presented. Computer graphics and the animation designed on the Macintosh allow detailed demonstration of physiologic concepts in color. Today, the project includes chapters on cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine systems. The electronic textbook has been used for two years by the medical students.

The general purpose for the II‐A program is to assist college and university libraries in acquiring technological equipment and in conducting research in information technology. This is done mainly through accessing and sharing of library and information resources across institutional lines. The Department of Education discretionary grant cycle, from legislation through close‐out, is presented, as is an overview of each step. The clearest trend in the Research and Demonstra‐tion projects proposed under the II‐A program is toward the development and testing of the “virtual library” or aspects of it.

Several years ago, libraries began introducing microcomputers for patron use. Most such “experiments” resulted in problems with hardware, software and peripheral support, security, and supervision. Some staff members expressed reservations about the appropriateness of microcomputers (for patron use) in the library. However, virtually no library that introduced the service has discontinued it; rather, the service has grown in scope and importance. The experience of the Medical College of Georgia Library is an example of how farsighted institutions have introduced microcomputers and have experienced significant growth in related library programs.

Small libraries can take advantage of alternative funding sources to address their automation needs and thus make available to their patrons the advantages of an “information rich” society. However, careful planning, research to identify receptive funding sources, and consistent, confident, knowledgeable communication of needs and objectives are requisite to the successful solicitation of funds. Burlingame, a university vice‐president who is responsible for fund‐raising at his institution, provides advice on the principles of successful fund‐raising. A sidebar discusses the Foundation Center.

The following is an annotated list of materials dealing with orientation to library facilities and services, instruction in the use of information resources, and research and computer skills related to retrieving, using, and evaluating information. This review, the fifteenth to be published in Reference Services Review, includes items in English published in 1988. A few are not annotated because the compiler could not obtain copies of them for this review.