The readings in this narrative unit are concerned with the machine's role today and its future use in shaping man's environment. The general teaching objectives are to enable the student: 1) to adapt to a society directed toward total living, rather than one in which he earns a living; 2) to understand that uncontrolled technological advance may…

The findings of a survey of selected administrative computer applications in large public school districts are presented in this report. Using a three part written questionnaire, the investigators polled 99 school districts throughout the United States and examined the responses of 55. Two major hypotheses were tested: 1) the difference in the…

As a part of the NASA sponsored program on the application of communication satellites to educational development, a study was made of the utilization of telecommunications by academic and school libraries in the United States and the potential for future utilization by these institutions. The five basic functions performed by all…

Describes the management approach used to introduce new technologies in an academic library and the success of this approach. The management of change is discussed in terms of communication between management and personnel; management style; development of a system; staff development; and sensitivity to staff reactions and needs. (CLB)

This paper discusses changes in information services at university libraries in Israel, focusing on the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Highlights include: combining the 20 departmental libraries at the Technion into one library system; efforts to build the status of the central library as the libraries' leader; the integrated library…

Describes cooperative planning and projects with teachers, students, and the library media specialist at an elementary school to help update the library to meet current and future information needs. Highlights include flexible scheduling; resource sharing; classes in library skills; computer technology; and updating the collection to include…

Describes the automation process in a library resources center in a small rural school district. Topics discussed include long-range planning; retrospective conversion for an online catalog; library automation software vendors; finances; training; time savings; CD-ROM products; telecomputing; computer literacy skills; professional development…

Examines the present services offered by university libraries in Nigeria, future users' expectations, the role of information technology, the type of staff needed, and the impact of computers on acquisitions, circulation, interlibrary loan, serials control, and online information retrieval. Finances, staff development, and the need for library…

Reports on a study of CD-ROM products in Nigerian libraries and information centers that gathered information about funding sources, users, hardware configurations, and training facilities through a survey of research, public, and academic libraries. Recommendations for future CD-ROM use are included, and a copy of the survey is appended.…

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…

Discusses the development of electronic libraries at Cornell University's (New York) Mann Library and elsewhere and presents an overview of changes in services and staff responsibilities needed to address user needs. Sidebar articles discuss Internet access to government information; changing staff roles; geographic information systems; the Mann…

Reviews recent literature on the use of technology in libraries by children and young adults. Highlights include the effectiveness of interactive information retrieval systems; children's use of card catalogs versus online catalogs; skills needed for success in using library catalogs; children's abilities to formulate searchable queries; and the…

This is the fifth in a series of reports summarizing expenditures for public and private school library resources in the United States. Highlights include use of federal funds; collection size and local expenditures; budgets; microcomputer resources; library media center staffing; the use of technology; network participation; and instructional…

Provides an overview of the IRIS (Intelligent Reference Information System) project at the University of Houston (Texas) libraries; describes CD-ROM database performance tests, user reactions to the CD-ROM network, and a survey of users of an expert system to recommend reference sources; and reports on current activities and future plans.…

Presents results of a survey of school library media centers in 1995 and 1996 that was conducted to examine technology use. Highlights include growth in Internet access, increased CD-ROM use, local area networks, distance education, funding sources, staffing, expenditures for technology, library collections, and librarian/teacher and…