In these difficult economic times, everyone is on the lookout for savings. This author, an adult services librarian at New City Library in New York, has spent the last two years implementing small-scale open source and freeware replacements where proprietary or paper solutions once ruled. While none of these projects is individually revolutionary,…

This paper focuses on the discrepancy in the access and use of computers by girls and boys in early childhood classrooms. It is argued that this difference can be attributed to gender biased classroom practices, lack of female role models, and the unavailability of bias-free software programs. The paper: discusses existing forms of gender bias;…

When considering the use of computers in their lessons, two questions are important for teachers: how to select courseware and how the role and practice of the teacher may change by using computers. To answer the first question, a courseware-selection checklist was developed and its use by teachers was investigated. The checklist serves the…

Describes the alternatives used by the Penn State University libraries to respond to the challenge of providing access to the many different kinds of databases. Approaches include development of a generic interface based on the Z39.50 protocol; staff support, including instruction, reliable documentation, and staff involvement; and better user…

The strategic planning process developed at Hartwick College (New York) begun in 1992 is described, and the college's resulting commitment to information technology is discussed. Issues arising during the process included choice of operating system(s), winning over skeptics, software selection, development of technical support, establishment of a…

Hartwick College (New York) developed a strategic vision for its future and invested significantly in information technology to transform that vision into reality. Guided by its president and trustees, Hartwick, a small, independent liberal arts college, formed a strategic plan in phases. At a formal board retreat in 1993, with faculty, students,…