Traces the history of the field of bibliometrics from ancient times to 1969, when the term was proposed as a substitute for "statistical bibliography," and discusses the theories of Lotka, Zipf, and Bradford; library use studies; citation analyses and bibliographic coupling. (Author/EM)

Describes the history of projectors, images, and variations of projection, and uses in still projection. (CMV)

Investigates the design history of women's household sewing patterns as that history is recorded in United States Patent Records. Finds that the history of home sewing patterns illustrates a key aspect of usable design: the interrelationship between a device and its documentation and the way changes to both enhance overall product usability. (RS)

The study, prepared for the Learning Resources Branch (LRB) of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), includes a brief history of library statistical programs of the Office of Education and the National NCES, 1870-1978; the uses of library statistics by the Office of Libraries and Learning Resources (OLLR) of the Office of Education…

According to Peirce, diagrammatic constructions are represented by words in a sentence, an algebraic formula, or a graphic display. They are the basis of all valid reasoning and provide significant means for discovering unexpected truths. Sources and uses of diagrams in education are discussed in relation to Peirce's ideas. Nineteen references are…

A founder trustee of OCLC recounts the steps toward automation of library catalogs encountered during his career, from the use of punched cards in a circulation system to the implementation of online union catalogs. (CLB)

Important events and information about the PLATO system featured in this document include a short history of the development of the PLATO system, a list of the PLATO project's financial supporters, a chronological rundown of highlights in PLATO's history, and an extensive bibliography of resources about PLATO published between 1961 and 1981. A map…

Important events and information about the PLATO system featured in this document include a short history of the development of the PLATO system, a list of the PLATO project's financial supporters, a chronological rundown of highlights in PLATO's history, and an extensive bibliography of resources about PLATO published between 1961 and 1979. A map…

Discusses land use patterns in fifteenth-century Europe and in the Americas and the mutual influence (initiated by Columbus's arrival in the Americas) that led to land use change. Presents a historical perspective and categorization of contemporary global land use changes for the purpose of highlighting associations between past and present global…

Explores the concept of computer literacy: in comparison with the early history of written literacy and in relation to what contemporary practitioners--users from education and industry--report about their computing experiences. Discusses implications for education and society. (PD)

Discusses the concept of information value and presents major findings of user studies and collection evaluations. A case study describing the implementation of networks for information in the areas of biomedicine and agronomy in Brazil in the late 1960s is presented. (35 references) (MES)

Intended to provide the novice media researcher with an introduction, review, and current thinking on media-related research, this article traces the historical emphases and development of such research, discusses its positive and negative aspects, and presents recommendations by practitioners and researchers, as well as directions for future…

Evaluates role played by the periodical "Economics" in the rise of economics study in English schools since the second World War. Topics discussed include membership in the Economics Association, contribution to the journal by school teachers, and the relationship of the boom in economics study to the general interest in social sciences. (DB)

Reviews the history of the most widely used device for measuring mass media audience reactions. Notes that competition and the expensive media environment have led communication scholars and policymakers to a revived interest in this device and qualitative audience measurement. (PD)

Discusses the increase in audience research for public broadcast radio programming and how it influences decisions about programming and fundraising. The evolution of public radio's use of audience research is related to its changing conception of localism. (53 references) (Author/AEF)