The last sections of the card catalog were removed from Burritt Library in August. To some, it was a relief - to others, a non-event - to still others, a catastrophe. But to anyone who noticed it, the event could not pass without an acknowledgment of what the library of today has become and the direction it is heading.

Academic libraries are currently caught between the old and the new, between the traditional and the innovative. The focus is shifting from former habits of collecting or buying materials "just-in case" someone might need them to a philosophy of "just-in-time", i.e., access to information which is available electronically when the researcher needs it.

Burritt Library is no different. Although we have continued to purchase books and journals, more and more of our resources are being focussed on electronic information. Abstracting and indexing services comprise the majority of the electronic materials that are available in Burritt, many of which are available on CD-ROM in the Reference Department or online through FirstSearch. We also have several databases to which we subscribe jointly with the other CSU libraries and make available through the CONSULS system. Although the CD-ROMs require a visit to the library, FirstSearch and the shared databases can be accessed from one's home or office PC.

Interlibrary cooperation has made it possible for Burritt to provide several full-text databases. This past spring we were able to participate with other academic libraries in Connecticut in subscribing to Project Muse. This is an effort by Johns Hopkins University Press to put all of the journals which they publish online, following the format of the `virtual' electronic journal. Another cooperative full-text effort is being sponsored by the Connecticut State Library for the academic libraries in the state. The Encyclopedia Britannica Online will be available this fall to faculty and students alike.

For interesting information that addresses the more traditional aspects of collection development, please see Lynn Johnson- Corcoran's article "How Our Library Builds Its Collections". It is important to remember that academic libraries will continue to provide all types of material for years to come. As we attempt to integrate electronic information into our library services, we will have significant challenges. There is no road map that can show us where we should be going; however, as we progress toward the 21st century, we will work diligently to ensure that Burritt Library remains responsive not only to traditional needs but also supports investment in innovative information resources.