Enormous funding increases for U.S. public schools have not yielded improvements in student performance. Econometric research shows that neither smaller classes nor graduate teacher training affects performance. Since schools use resources inefficiently, incentives should be linked to performance. Magnet and charter schools and private school…

Describes the state of electronic medical records, their advantage over existing paper records, the problems impeding their implementation, and concerns over their security and confidentiality. Topics include challenges for the new health care era, including managed care systems, cost benefits, lack of standards, and future possibilities.…

Discusses the results of modeling the performance of searching large text databases via various parallel hardware architectures and search algorithms. The performance under load and the cost of each configuration are compared, and a common search workload used in the modeling is described. (Contains 26 references.) (LRW)

This commentary on Erb's (1995) article on institutionalization argues that living in one's home community is better than being forced to leave it to obtain needed services. The commentary also criticizes the assertion that supported living programs funded through Medicaid waiver are not cost-effective compared to traditional institutional or…

Robert Erb responds to commentaries to his paper on institutional placement for individuals with severe disabilities and the costs of community and institutional placements. Risk-and-benefit issues, in addition to cost-and-benefit ones, are addressed. (SW)

Provides an overview of HYTREM (Hybrid Text-Retrieval Machine), a high-performance, cost-effective text-retrieval machine that handles information in large textual databases. Describes HYTREM's software and hardware design principles and presents an evaluation of system performance in relation to user demand and access versus system capacity. (JMV)

Indicates the advantages under school-based management of transferring funds to the individual schools in a lump sum with minimal encumbrances, along with the freedom to transfer funds within the school budget. Transferring money to the schools, along with corresponding decision-making powers, enhances responsibility and accountability. (MLF)

Discussion of adult literacy and the role of public libraries focuses on the development of Adult Learning Centers based on experiences at the Hempstead Public Library (New York). The use of self-guided computer-assisted instruction is explained, and benefits are described. (LRW)

Discusses interactive instruction methods using computer-based instruction (CBI), computer-based training (CBT), and interactive video (CD-I, DVI, and IVD.) Ten ways that interactive training saves time and cost for employees and employer are listed. (Contains 12 references.) (SLW)

Examines and compares the costs and response times of traditional interlibrary loan services and four commercial document delivery suppliers based on a study conducted by Vassar College libraries through the OCLC Interlibrary Loan subsystem. Results are reported that indicate commercial services were usually no more efficient but were more…

Today's modern roofs allow heat to build up in the roof membrane, eventually causing structural damage. An annual roof inspection typically costs less that 3% of roof replacement costs and can identify which areas need immediate attention. Offers suggestions for a roof-maintenance program. (MLF)

Describes the use of infometry, or informational geometry, to meet the challenges of information service businesses. Highlights include theoretical models for cognitive coordination and genetic programming; electronic information packaging; marketing electronic information products, including cost-benefit analyses; and recapitalization, including…

Describes three companies' approaches to marketing and selling CD-ROM products on the World Wide Web. Benefits include low overhead for Internet-based sales, allowance for creativity, and ability to let customers preview products online. Discusses advertising, information delivery, content, information services, and security. (AEF)

Describes a proposed core-level bibliographic standard that combines the cost effectiveness of minimal-level cataloging with full-level cataloging's utility for library cooperation. The process of developing core-level standards, a definition of a core record, comparisons of core records with minimal- and full-level records, and implementation…

The effects of scheduled intern rotations on the cost and quality of inpatient care at a teaching hospital were studied for 1,705 rotation patients and 3,141 no-rotation patients. Systematic discontinuity of scheduled rotations may be a source of increased health care costs at teaching hospitals. (SLD)