The proliferation of Web pages and digitized material mounted on Internet servers has become unmanageable. Librarians and users are concerned that documents and information are being lost in cyberspace as a result of few bibliographic controls and common standards. Librarians in cooperation with software creators and Web page designers are…

In 1958, the United States Congress legislated the National Defense Education Act to educated U.S. citizens in languages and area studies in order that they might qualify for employment at universities and government agencies. By 1995, many of the area studies librarians were beginning to retire with few qualified librarians having the area…

A discussion of African language teaching in the United States argues that the profession of African language instruction is in its infancy, without a common body of knowledge, generally accepted standards of practice, or specific goals, and that it needs further development, based on earlier federal legislative mandates. It is further proposed…

Since the enactment of the 1958 National Defense Education Act, funded universities have provided African language instruction at the postsecondary level. With an increased interest in the less commonly taught languages (LCT) demonstrated by the 1988 Foreign Language Assistance Act, several African Studies Center universities provide instruction…

The use of electronic communication in the 12 Title VI African Studies Centers is discussed, and the networks available for their use are reviewed. It is argued that the African Studies Centers should be on the cutting edge of contemporary electronic communication and that computer networks should be a fundamental aspect of their programs. An…

A study examined beliefs about language learning held by students of Arabic and Swahili in six African studies programs. A survey administered to 134 students gathered demographic information and student attitudes about 47 statements concerning language learning strategies, ability, usefulness, and skill difficulty, multilingualism, and reasons…

African studies computer resources that are readily available in the United States with linkages to Africa are described, highlighting those most directly corresponding to African content. Africanists can use the following four fundamental computer systems: (1) Internet/Bitnet; (2) Fidonet; (3) Usenet; and (4) dial-up bulletin board services. The…

The promotion of foreign language instruction and learning has been the objective of three national legislative acts: National Defense Education Act, Foreign Language Assistance Act, and National Security Education Act. Following these enactments, the Department of Education and the Department of Defense have dispensed appropriations to meet the…