Notes advantages and disadvantages of the DIALOG Predicasts files and provides instruction in their use. (RAA)

Explains the controversy surrounding the Office Assistant ("Paper-Clip") in Microsoft's Office 97. Discusses why actual readers rejected the default Office Assistant's role as implied writer and rebelled against the reader role implied for them. Notes users resented its intrusive behavior, rejected its implied writer role, and refused to…

Defines two meanings of information design: the overall process of developing a successful document; and the way the information is presented on the screen (layout, typography, color, and so forth). Discusses the future importance of both of these meanings of information design, in terms of design for the web and single-sources (planning…

The main responsibility of the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Centers for Health and Education Statistics is to collect, process, analyze, and disseminate statistical data on the economic, physical, and social characteristics of the United States. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, the federal…

Discusses the need for reference librarians to learn reference materials well enough to be able to review materials and correctly refer patrons to information sources. The review process is outlined and some evaluation of current reference services is provided. (CLB)

Discusses what usability is and how to test for it. Offers nine suggestions for technical communicators working on usability testing. (SR)

Reports results of user survey complemented by personal discussions organized to ascertain users' satisfaction with and impact of On-line Information Service (OLIS) introduced by University of Hong Kong Libraries in January 1980. Subject searches, relevance of citations, and costs are discussed. The questionnaire and OLIS requests form are…

This report describes the 1980-81 development of a multistate, multimedia, multi-agency audioconferencing network for human services in Maine and New Hampshire, under a grant which was designed to: (1) establish a 20-site audioconferencing network in vocational rehabilitation offices; (2) provide training and technical assistance to the agencies…

Seventeen papers from the 1984 annual conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science (CAIS) are presented in four broad topic areas. The first group, which focuses on changing roles in information access, includes the keynote address by Charles Meadow, "Integrating Access to Information Utilities: Promises, Problems, and…

Between July 1, 1986, and June 30, 1987, the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC)/State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (SOICC) network has made significant gains in meeting the information needs of planners and administrators of vocational education and employment and training programs as well as of…

This paper identifies and describes the categories of electronic publications (EPs) in a document-based communication and information system called JIMMY, developed by Queen Margaret College (Edinburgh, Scotland) for use by students and staff in general arts and paramedical courses. The use of computer-mediated communication systems like bulletin…