Discusses objective and subjective standards for library selection of new periodicals. Twenty-four recommended magazines published for the first time in 1986 or 1987 are reviewed under subject headings which included satire, lifestyles, life and art, comics, health, and literary criticism and music. Ordering information for the magazines is…

Provides an introduction to the use of communications software for remote access between microcomputers. Areas discussed include hardware requirements for these applications, software features that should be considered, security issues, and some disadvantages of remote control software. A directory of remote control software packages is provided.…

Discusses four new book photocopiers and major equipment factors--paper, toner, ultraviolet light, and machine design--that should be considered in preservation photocopying. An approach for selecting a copier is suggested. The appendix includes a table of specification data for the copiers and a checklist for copier evaluation. (25 references)…

Examines features of currently available electronic spelling checkers to assist in purchasing decisions. Hardware considerations are discussed, and several standalone checkers for the IBM and Macintosh are described, as well as checkers included with word processing programs. Ordering information for the programs is included. (MES)

Provides an overview of camera options and selection criteria for desktop videoconferencing. Key factors in image quality are discussed, including lighting, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio; and steps to improve image quality are suggested. (LRW)

Discussion of speech processing computers that are capable of speech-to-text translation (speech recognition) and text-to-speech production (speech translation) highlights five products currently available: Voice EM, Voice Report, MedTrans 200, Development System, and DragonDictate. Criteria the speech recognition systems must meet for use in the…

Designed to aid teachers, school administrators, librarians, students, and parents in selecting educational software for preschool through grade 12, this guide lists 231 programs chosen from 6,000 evaluations conducted by 35 education software evaluation efforts in the United States and Canada. The introduction provides a detailed explanation of…

This cumulative guide lists the 550 highest rated programs identified by "Only the Best" from the evaluation reports of 37 evaluation services over a 5-year period. The introduction describes the selection criteria used as well as the individual evaluation services whose evaluations were used, and lists sources where the evaluations…

Designed to aid teachers, school administrators, and parents in selecting educational software for grades K-12, this guide lists 193 programs chosen from over 6,500 evaluations conducted by 30 evaluation services in the United States and Canada. Following the introduction, which provides a detailed explanation of how the programs were selected,…

Designed to aid teachers, school administrators, and parents in selecting educational software for grades K-12, this guide lists 226 programs chosen form 8,000 evaluations conducted by 32 evaluation services in the United States and Canada. Following the introduction, which provides a detailed explanation of how the programs were selected, the…

Describes the evaluation of four relational database management systems (RDBMSs) (Informix Turbo, Oracle 6.0 TPS, Unify 2000 and Relational Technology's Ingres 5.0) to determine which is best suited for library automation. The evaluation criteria used to develop a benchmark specifically designed to test RDBMSs for libraries are discussed. (CLB)

Reviews the five criteria with which to evaluate instructional materials (content validity, transfer potential, amount of reinforcement, quality of directions and instructional language, and adaptability/flexibility). Presents content bias as the last criterion. Reviews four resources for developing reference and study skills. (MG)

This document reviews a dozen history textbooks. The following American History textbooks are reviewed: (1) Joyce Appleby, Alan Brinkley, and James M. McPherson, The American Journey: Building a Nation (Glencoe, 2003), and Joyce Appleby, Alan Brinkley, Albert S. Broussard, James M. McPherson, and Donald A. Ritchie, The American Republic Since 1877…

Describes a workshop for teaching library users how to manage reprint files which was developed at the University of Southern California Norris Medical Library. Software programs designed for this purpose are suggested, and a sidebar lists software features to consider. (eight references) (MES)

Identifies four microcomputer-based software packages for scheduling and evaluates their usefulness for scheduling employees in a library setting. Evaluation criteria are applied to (1) Schedule Master, from Schedule Master Corporation; (2) Schedule Plus, from Cyclesoft, Inc.; (3) Who Works When, from Newport Systems; and (4) Working Hours, from…