The researcher now had the ability to locate all materials containing the search terms used in the keyword search. You were still restricted, however, to items located in the library you were in or libraries that were part of the same system. An example might be a large university or urban library system with collections in multiple locations. Eventually, with advances in technology, outside users could log in to library catalogs in remote locations. With the advent of the Internet, a world of possibilities unfolded.
Researchers can now access libraries around the world with the click of a mouse button.
You will remember I mentioned that with the card catalog and the first electronic catalogs you were restricted to locating materials that were owned by the library you were in. If the library didn't have what you needed, you were out of luck unless you had a specific book or article in mind, in which case it could be obtained through Inter-Library Loan. This accomplishes two things. First, you can search many libraries rapidly from your home, office or computer lab. Second, you are exposed to a wider range of resources.