This special section on local area networks includes three articles: (1) a description of migration at Joyner Library, East Carolina University (North Carolina) to a new network server; (2) a discussion of factors to consider for network planning in school libraries; and (3) a directory of companies supplying cable, hardware, software, and…

Discusses the need for resource sharing among libraries to go beyond traditional interlibrary loans. Topics addressed include resource sharing via circulation; a new publishing model; shared cataloging, acquisitions, serials control, management, personnel and expertise, and facilities; paying for services; and the role of networks. (LRW)

Six universities collaborated in developing an integrated academic information management system (IAIMS) to manage data and information as a shared resource and to bring together resources for timely decision making. The program assists institutions in linking their library systems and other information systems to support education, research,…

Discussion of the use of computer networks to create electronic communities highlights a research strategy that compared educational activities conducted across electronic networks to examine features of successful and unsuccessful electronic communities. Networks described include university researchers' networks; teacher networks; student…

Discusses the role of non-public school libraries, especially Catholic school libraries, in New York State's School Library System. The interlibrary loan networks which have been established are described, and benefits to participating libraries are discussed that include professional development as well as cooperative collection development. (LRW)

Describes MultiLIS, an integrated library system. Five sidebars discuss the State University of New York (SUNY) Library Automation Implementation Program, Frame Relay telecommunications technology, the Expert Choice Decision Support System, tools for enhancement of data quality in online catalogs, and library automation in the Saskatoon (Canada)…

Asserts that the United States government information's five stakeholders--federal agencies, Government Printing Office (GPO), depository libraries, commercial sector, and the public will need to change drastically in reaction to improved technologies. Notes that the concept of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) network may have…

Schools' course structures and policies allow some families to garner the best educational resources. To treat all students fairly, schools must recognize privileged parents' racial/class motivations, infuse academic talk into informal networks, acknowledge "invisible" parents' aspirations, demolish communication barriers, and encourage…

Presents an account of a self-access language-teaching scheme operated at the University of Bologna (Italy) that was developed to teach English to university students by building a self-access environment available over a computer network. Discusses courseware, test generator, multimedia workstations, student use of laboratories, and future…

Describes school-improvement measures in Quebec, supported by the Partnership on School Improvement and the Quebec School Improvement Network. The Partnership includes representatives from government, McGill University, associations of school boards and school administrators, and teachers' unions. Staff trainings and improvement initiatives in…

Lists educational media-related journals, books, ERIC documents, journal articles, and nonprint resources classified by Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Electronic Performance Support Systems; Computer-Assisted Instruction; Distance Education; Educational Research; Educational Technology; Electronic Publishing; Information Science and…

Describes a program in neuroscience education that integrates innovative teaching styles and technologies. Two-way digitally compressed televideo is used for lecture and discussion simultaneously with on-site and remote students. Asynchronous computer conferencing complements class periods with student interactions and teacher feedback.…

Highlighting Massachusetts initiatives, examines the recent state movement toward adoption of curriculum frameworks and state assessments as vehicles for improving accountability and student achievement. Absence of standards guarantees stratified educational opportunities. Reform initiatives should include practitioners; avoid prescriptive,…

Describes two projects--CyberFair and Community Share--in which schools share resources, establish partnerships, and students work together to publish information about their communities on the Internet. Discusses learning objectives, classroom discussion, student research, educational benefits, peer review, and announcing contest winners.…

Proposes a strategy that librarians can consider when implementing SGML (Standard General Markup Language) applications on top of existing products, or when embedding these in end-user services. Experiences of SGML within a Belgian library network are discussed, including local journal article databases, current awareness, and digital libraries.…