What Has Technology Done for Us Lately?

Up to 1976, serials automation had progressed to a point where the activities of the bibliographic networks was increasingly important, and the CONSER project had been launched. However, most union lists of serials were still being compiled manually, and the computers used for library applications consisted primarily of (expensive) mainframe computers. Several events took place in 1976: the Library of Congress received a grant for CONSER 11; OCLC's serials check-in system became available; NCLIS established a Task Force on a National Periodicals System; and the first major revision of the copyright law was passed. This article discusses the progress made or the changes that have occurred since 1976 in: CONSER, the bibliographic networks, union lists of serials, stand-alone systems, electronic mail, full text services, copyright, and organizations providing services involving serials.