Describes the academic unit for which the Integrated Information Center (IIC) was originally developed--the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs of the University of Minnesota--and the information environment within which the IIC operates, including the university libraries, academic computing services and systems, and administrative…

Describes a citation study that examines the extent to which interdisciplinary research in librarianship is restricted by paradigms. The use of library science and sociology journal articles that address the sociological aspect of libraries is explained, and implications for library science are suggested. (14 references) (LRW)

Discusses reasons for the self-publishing trend in Canada. Topics addressed include changes in the publishing industry, desktop publishing, quality control, printing, publicity, reviews, marketing, and the future of self-publishing. Two sidebars discuss vanity presses and self-publishing and libraries. (32 references) (LRW)

Suggests using primary sources such as diaries and folk songs in history instruction to broaden the textbook portrayal of history. Recommends the establishment of centers throughout the United States with access to library resources. Identifies some existing centers. Includes an appendix on folk songs and history in the classroom. (SG)

Explores the use of outdated reference materials in history instruction and the inadequacy of bibliographic training for history graduate students. Describes the explosive growth in the availability of reference works and their changes in form. Observes that historians still rely primarily on written reference works. Offers a taxonomy of U.S.…

Describes the evolution of computerized information storage and retrieval from its mid-nineteenth century beginnings in theoretical works on logic by George Boole, to the applications of Boole's logic to switching circuits by Claude Shannon in the 1930s, to the development of coordinate indexing by Mortimer Taube in the 1940s and 1950s. (Contains…

Reviews the 1992 annual conference of the Medical Library Association (MLA). Highlights include elevating the professional authority of medical librarians; continuing education programs; the credentialing process; the proposed Code of Ethics; and a keynote address by Patricia Aburdene that discussed leadership traits for women. (LRW)

Discusses the integration of knowledge and how librarians can help achieve integration through various information access tools. The use of subject headings and descriptors in different indexes is described, the use of specialized tools versus more general tools is discussed, and examples are provided. (Contains nine references.) (LRW)

Describes a research finding about the impact of free voluntary reading in schools (i.e., time set aside for young people to read what they want to read) on reading comprehension, vocabulary development, spelling, written style, oral/aural language, and control of grammar. (KRN)

Discusses ethical issues that relate to law librarianship. Topics addressed include the need to dispense understandable, timely, relevant, complete, and appropriate information; engaging in the actual practice of law; relationships between law librarians and vendors and publishers; and the code of ethics of the American Association of Law…

Discussion of organizational development and change focuses on parallel organization, a theory that combines changes in organizational theory with Quality of Work Life (QWL) theory. Criteria for effective employee participation groups are described, design and implementation of the parallel organization are explained, applications to libraries are…

Discussion of the adoption of new technologies in libraries throughout history focuses on two innovations in particular: the card catalog and the typewriter. Topics discussed include the replacement of one technology by another; budget considerations; requirements and attitudes of the labor force; reactions of library users; and attitudes of…

Describes research that was conducted to determine and then compare which Anglo American Cataloging 2 (AACR2) rules were used to assign access points for random samples of monographs in chemistry and in economics. Implications for automatic cataloging using expert systems are explored, and suggestions for further studies are given. (10 references)…

Reports the results of a survey of librarians in Western Australia that examined whether librarians feel it is important to keep up with new developments in technology, the means used by librarians to find out about new developments, and the effectiveness of those means. The questionnaire used is appended. (Nine references) (CLB)

This study of the role and value of fieldwork in education for library and information science used questionnaires, logbooks, and interviews to assess attitudes toward and learning during fieldwork programs at two South African universities. Findings related to learning are reported, and recommendations for the design of a fieldwork program are…