Most consortia and many standalone systems have provided direct public access dial ports for users with PCs and modems. Library automated system vendors, including most of those in use in Connecticut libraries, are moving rapidly to make their systems accessible to query via standard searching tools from outside the systems. Stand-alone automated systems embrace all types of libraries. They are integrated into large and small public, school, academic, and special libraries. In turn system configurations vary greatly according to size and the requirements of the institution.
Many libraries operate a single site system.
Their operations cable VT100-type terminals or PCs back to a central processing unit within one building. Other institutions support a more complex configuration. Terminals are linked from one or several sites back to a central location through dedicated telephone lines. The larger stand-alone automated library systems take on many of the characteristics of a network environment. Intracity networking is a very recent development in library automation.