With its October 2014 day-long conference on competency-based education and Higher Education Innovation Challenge (HEIC), the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) is creating a space in which New England states and institutions can wrestle with the critical issues driven by abundant information. The HEIC lists multiple areas where the…

Ruscio and colleagues (Ruscio, Seaman, D'Oriano, Stremlo, & Mahalchik, this issue) provide a thoughtful empirical analysis of 22 different measures of individual scholarly impact. The simplest metric is number of publications, which Simonton (1997) found to be a reasonable predictor of career trajectories. Although the assessment of the scholarly…

Ruscio, Seaman, D'Oriano, Stremlo, and Mahalchik (this issue) evaluate 22 bibliometric indicators, including conventional measures, like the number of publications, the "h" index, and many "h" index variants. To assess the quality of the indicators, their well-justified criteria encompass conceptual, empirical, and practical…

In this article, the author argues the need for transparency with regard to the automation systems used in libraries. As librarians make decisions regarding automation software and services, they should have convenient access to information about the organizations it will potentially acquire technology from and about the collective experiences of…

The various steps to be implemented in helping students to interact with the Internet in order to avoid wrong information sites are presented. It is significant that children need to be well guided to reputable sources of information in electronic subscription databases.

The spaces in which public deliberation most often takes place are institutionally, technologically, and scientifically complex. In this article, we argue that in order to participate, citizens must be able to invent valued knowledge. This invention requires using complex information technologies to access, assemble, and analyze information in…

In the last issue, this journal asked a question on many librarians' minds, and it was pleased with the depth and variety of responses. As suggested by this journal editorial board member Oliver Pesch, readers were asked, "Many libraries have gone to federated searching to win users back from Google. Is it working?" Respondents approached the…

Considers the advent of surveillance societies--(i.e.,) societies where integrated surveillance of individuals is possible through various automated databases--with examples drawn from Canada and Sweden. Legislative efforts to regulate such developments and the role of data protection agencies are discussed. (13 references) (MES)

Defines information tectonics as the organizing of information in structures and good information tectonics as being adapted to the needs of the user. Topics discussed include the influence of electronic information technology and electronic databases; hypertext; hierarchical information structures; cross-graining, e.g., the Dewey Decimal system;…

Discusses problems that new information technologies have created for intellectual property concerns. Digital sampling devices used in music are described, downloading from large databases is discussed, the problems with derivative works are considered, outdated copyright laws are discussed, and ways that librarians can help protect intellectual…

Discusses the importance of the next article in this issue, which deals with the acceptance of electronic or optical forms of data as evidence during litigation. The collection and storage of data in new formats is described, and the need for technological knowledge for attorneys acting as general counsel to agencies is discussed. (LRW)

Presents a summary of the issues addressed at a national meeting sponsored by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the goal of which was to produce a national agenda for research in the archival management of electronic records. Research opportunities and methodologies are identified, and criteria for research…

Discusses technological developments in information distribution and management in relation to concepts of ownership. A historical overview of the concept of copyright is presented; licensing elements for databases are examined; and implications for gateway systems are explored, including ownership, identification of users, and allowable uses of…

Describes how an introductory course in database management is enriched using the Internet and how students encounter problems with sociotechnical systems. Concludes with observations concerning conditions that must be in place for Internet-augmented systems. (DDR)

Includes five selected papers from the Thirty-Second Annual Conference of the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services. Highlights include future possibilities of electronic information delivery; changes in information exchange between the United States and unified European governments; Japanese information systems; updating…