Describes how keeping carpets in good condition depends not only on proper maintenance but also on careful carpet selection at the outset. Offers advice for restoring a carpet's new appearance through vacuuming and hot-water extraction and suggests ways to manage spots and stains. (RJM)

Explains the job of precision instrument and equipment repairers, who work on cameras, medical equipment, musical instruments, watches and clocks, and industrial measuring devices. Discusses duties, working conditions, employment and earnings, job outlook, and skills and training. (JOW)

Examines bilingual women and their discourses of identities, language choice, and language maintenance in light of new research on gender and language contact. Presents a view of value, roles, and directions of past and present research about gender and language contact and provides an example for future directions through examination of the…

Comparison of a Japanese auto plant and its U.S. affiliate attributed the 10% lower production rate of the latter to less-integrated and weaker troubleshooting skills and lower maintenance skills. Lack of integrated skills in the U.S. was attributed to use of a job-bid system for transfers; integrated skill formation was controlled by supervisors…

Describes the experiences of Romani children with schooling in the United States, including their educational beliefs, misconceptions about them, and their parents' concerns about cultural transmission. Ways for schools to respond are exemplified by the Seattle school district. (SK)

Comments on how schools can take advantage of summer vacations to tackle construction and renovation projects. Issues such as keeping the community informed about the summer construction schedule, guaranteeing student safety, creating teamwork, and anticipating potential surprises are discussed. (GR)

Addresses the challenge of meeting the requirements of the United Kingdom's new National Health Service in primary care, while at the same time protecting conditions for counseling as a creative rather than a mechanical process. The profession of counseling and psychotherapy in primary care needs to rapidly find its place within the new…

Discusses why Indiana University finds using separate maintenance management, geographic information, and computer-assisted design and facilities management systems is more practical than integrating all three into one package. The central features of the system are discussed. (GR)

Discusses technology-support issues, including staff training, cost, and outsourcing. Describes how various school districts manage technology-support services. Features the Technology Support Index, developed by the International Society for Technology in Education, to gauge the operation of school district technology-support programs. (PKP)

Discusses the factors that educational facilities managers must consider when selecting doors and windows for their buildings. These include finding a balance in terms of security, energy efficiency, accessibility, aesthetics, and durability; cleaning and maintenance; and noise issues. (EV)

Offers strategies to make schools' cleaning operations run more smoothly. Discusses how to estimate the amount of space that needs cleaning and how long it should take, the benefits of team cleaning versus zone cleaning, and the importance of monitoring complaints and overtime to ensure staff is performing efficiently. (EV)

Examines the position of Tamil as an ethnic minority and language in Malaysia, and makes predictions about the prognosis for survival of Tamil in the twenty-first century. (Author/VWL)

Using the examples of libraries at Southeast Missouri State University and the University of North Texas, discusses the big-picture approach and extensive communication among all users necessary for library maintenance efforts. Addresses establishing a master plan, prioritizing projects, having the right staff, and communicating. (EV)

Examines built-up, modified bitumen, and hybrid combinations of the two roofing systems and offers advise on how to assure high- quality performance and durability when using them. Included is a glossary of commercial roofing terms and asphalt roofing resources to aid in making decisions on roofing and systems product selection. (GR)

Discusses the benefits of each of three types of roofing systems: built-up roofing (BUR); modified bitumen; and a combination of BUR and modified bitumen. Roof performance, performance maximization, and inspection and maintenance issues are addressed. A brief glossary of commercial roofing terms is included. (GR)