Discusses the utilization of evaluative information in terms of the dimensions of evaluation, pitfalls of evaluation, and facts concerning useful evaluation. (AH)

Critically reviews the preceding article by Lapointe and Koffler. Suggests that many of these authors' recommendations for program improvement need qualification. (GC)

Points out that the fundamental and unifying activity of those who work in the information field--and the basic social value of the information profession--is the facilitation of the utilization of records. Thus, the training of the information professional should emphasize three concepts: records, utilization, and facilitation. (Author)

Evaluators may attempt to form particular relationships with their clients in order to increase the probability that the evaluation findings will be used for decision making. The evaluator's interest in this relationship should not overshadow the importance of ensuring the validity of reported results. (Author/GDC)

Discusses content-based image retrieval systems that effectively utilize information from image databases, and provides a taxonomy for approaches to image retrieval. Highlights include image retrieval architecture that supports query operators; conceptual issues; and two application prototypes. (100 references) (Author/LRW)

Explains personal information management (PIM) systems and suggests a user-subjective approach to PIM system design. Advocates that PIM systems relate to the subjective value-added attributes that the user gives the stored data so that the user can find information again, recall it when needed, and use it effectively in the next interaction.…

Explored how images were used in a social science research project and analyzed the use of verbs to identify three functions that images fill. Argues that the separation between finding documents and using them is artificial, and explores the use of image documents to help integrate information retrieval more closely with knowledge generation.…

A survey of 1,200 midwesterners received 643 replies identifying factors affecting tendency to read and use product owner's manuals: (1) product familiarity and lack of time negatively affected use; (2) having a question or problem increased use; and (3) perceived value of information (i.e., redundant or obvious information) deterred use. (SK)

Reviews commonly accepted notions of information value from the perspective of a computer scientist and suggests the importance of using an economic commodity value approach as the most meaningful way to establish information value. Information value as use, as traffic, and as commodity are considered. (Contains 24 references.) (LRW)

In organizational knowledge cycles there is continuous flow of information between sensemaking, knowledge creation, and decision making. The outcome of information use in one provides the context and resources for use in another. The example of the World Health Organization's smallpox eradication program illustrates a continuous cycle of…

The vast amount of readily available information is just one reason for transforming the way in conducting research and acquiring knowledge. The nature of information itself has changed. In text and other formats, information is not just created by experts--it is created and co-created by amateurs. More than ever before, people can choose what,…

This paper summarizes the many uses of the California Postsecondary Education Commission's data system and describes work in progress on adding additional data elements. It describes how the Commission is using its Longitudinal Student Data System (LSDS) to examine the movement of students through California's public colleges and universities. The…

Competitive Intelligence (CI) has become an attractive concept for Library and Information Science professionals, as information and research functions have become commoditized by end users, and financial, competitive, and performance pressures increase the need to demonstrate value. In the current competitive and cost-cutting environment,…