The academic library, given its often privileged position on campus, is the information source that can include directional as well as general campus facts among the myriad of print and e-resources for reference. Also, an academic library's audiences can be quite varied and include prospective students or parents seeking more general knowledge of…

Students in higher education today are technologically savvy and expect faculty to use myriad web technologies for course delivery. This includes taking advantage of email, course web sites, and online learning communities. However, expectations now also include RSS, blogs, web-, pod-, and vod-casting, extending the classroom experience to provide…

Describes ways to make library Web sites more accessible to children and teens with disabilities. Highlights include HTML code; the importance of contrast combinations for text and background; problems with using frames; alternatives to graphics; helpful Web sites; and the concept of universal design. (LRW)

Considers the use of self-paced tutorials on the Internet to teach library users how to search the Internet. Discusses the present lack of an adequate tutorial, recommends the use of animated graphics, and suggests the need for good tutorials on the Internet that foster systematic learning. (LRW)

Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of integrated software, i.e., software that combines the functions of several independent programs such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics programs, and desktop publishing so that users can work in a consistent and flexible computer environment. Microsoft Works, a well-known integrated package, is…

This paper describes basic types of World Wide Web pages and presents design criteria for page layout based on principles of visual literacy. Discussion focuses on pages that present information in the following styles: billboard; directory/index; textual; and graphics. Problems and solutions in Web page construction are explored according to…

Discusses the importance of user cordial interfaces to the successful marketing of optical data disk products, and describes features of several online systems. The topics discussed include full text searching, indexed searching, menu driven interfaces, natural language interfaces, computer graphics, and possible future developments. (CLB)

When students feel that their learning needs are not being met by computer-aided instruction, learning becomes passive, often resulting in boredom, frustration or a dislike for learning with computers. "Button Theory" allows the student to express his feelings and questions to the computer at the touch of a button, thus enhancing control over the…

Describes the Book House, an interactive, multimedia online public access catalog (OPAC) developed in Denmark that uses icons, text, and animation. An alternative design model that addresses problems in OPACs is described; and database design, system navigation, use for fiction retrieval, and evaluation are discussed. (20 references) (MES)

This report describes a project consisting of a collaborative effort involving a team of computer graphics specialists and an art historian in creating an electronic facility for teaching and research in the history of art. The major innovation was in finding a way to use exclusively digitized material, text, images, and movement through space, in…

Issues concerning the implementation of standard user interfaces for CD-ROMs are discussed, including differing perceptions of the ideal interface, graphical user interfaces, user needs, and the standard protocols. It is suggested users should be able to select from a variety of user interfaces on each CD-ROM. (EA)

Describes the "Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials," a joint venture of OCLC and the American Association for the Advancement of Science that is the first electronic peer-reviewed science journal with graphics and searchable full text. Topics discussed include library automation, document delivery, benefits of electronic journals,…

Various methods for retrieving chemical structure information on the World Wide Web are discussed. Although graphical plug-in programs provide more search capabilities, users first have to obtain a copy of the programs. Tripos's WebSketch and ACD Interactive Lab adopt a different approach; using JAVA applets, users create and display a structure…

While the expansion of worldwide hypermedia systems has opened new gateways in the information industry, the result has been material being archived faster than it can be read. Users need to be able to scan information quickly and have more control in information seeking and retrieval. A new area of research is in the development of multimedia…

Examines the process involved in creating a library-related Web site based on experiences at Marquette University libraries. Topics include user needs, including library instruction and remote access services; content; design and redesign of the home page, including graphics; responsibility for site management; and future plans. (LRW)