Access to power and recognition of the currents of political life represent the greatest challenge to positioning for the public library and its leader. Clear vision is vital for navigating a multitude of constituencies. The director's hierarchical position may or may not be of value in the quest to fulfill the library's goals. (Author/KRN)

Presents a historical background of effects that the end of the Cold War had on Slavic and East European collections, and focuses on declines in the acquisition of new materials via blanket orders and exchanges. Examines results of a survey of Slavic librarians to determine acquisition sources. Tables display survey responses. (JMV)

Describes the role of the rural community development worker in achieving social change by encouraging participatory decision making. Presents results of a participatory research study in which the author, as a community worker, empowers a village with a failed water supply to seek change where they had previously experienced resistance by…

To respond effectively to alleged historical misrepresentations and prejudices in Afrocentric and other ethnocentric philosophies, educators must first address our society's inadequacies. Silence suggests complicity and discredits calls for reason, academic scholarship, and the value of learning. Multiculturalism is a world view that is rooted in…

Forty-nine dates and events of significance in the history of South Africa are presented with a brief summary of each event. The chronology begins with the late Stone Age and extends through the political developments of 1990 that signal the decline of racial segregation in South Africa. (SLD)

Experiences of a college teacher teaching a course on the Vietnam War during the Persian Gulf Crisis illustrate the impact that teaching history can have on the consciousness of students. Respect for other cultures and other races are essential before students can stop glorifying war. (SLD)

Defines literacy needs of immigrants in Canada, using personal stories to illustrate the destructive effect literacy problems have on people perceived to lack literacy skills. Questions are raised about implications for Canadian society as a whole and about the effectiveness of its English-as-a-Second-Language programs. (LB)

Focuses on political and bureaucratic factors that retard the reform of U.S. economic development policy. Several models for economic development are examined, as are the policy preferences among them. A typology is presented of different development policies integrating the various political, bureaucratic, and environmental factors. (GLR)

Reviews the history of U.S. foreign aid, and contests popular assumptions about the leading role of the United States in contemporary aid efforts. Provides a detailed breakdown of the U.S. foreign affairs budget to support the argument. Links the argument to suggestions for appropriate U.S. policy in this area. (DSK)

Presents a series of questions designed to provoke students to think about their location in the world, the effect of global connections on their local culture, and current global problems and their implications. Includes Internet contact information for some United Nations agencies that provide information useful to students. (DSK)

Considers gender equity in libraries and library education, particularly the identification of men with information science experience involving computers. Discusses the history of gender imbalance in library education; computers and gender; changes in library education; demographic implications of curriculum changes; the use of adjuncts; library…

Describes Internet-based online interactive role-playing simulations of current political events that were developed at Macquarie University (Australia) to be used with Internet partners around the world. Discusses the use of e-mail, teleconferences, and evaluation of the simulations. (LRW)

The National Qualification Framework (NQF) in South Africa attempts to integrate education and training, and to facilitate access and progression through the educational and training system. This paper describes the background of NQF, explores the extent to which NQF addresses the problems of poverty, hunger, and unemployment, and considers the…

It is time for the field of evaluation to recognize that the ability to serve policy depends as much on what is understood about how politics works as it does on the quality and appropriateness of evaluation methods. Evaluations must be defensible as the political mix changes. (SLD)

Addresses speech codes, admissions policies, and curriculum reform as areas of great debate and complication as they relate to political correctness (PC). Although its main goal has been to increase diversity awareness on campus, the author posits PC has taken a superficial approach to complex debates. (JBJ)