It is suggested that the director of personnel should be making maximum use of available computer services. Four concerns of personnel directors are cited: number of government reports required, privacy and security, cost of space for personnel records and files, and the additional decision-making tools required for collective bargaining…

A large fire in a main administration building at Hope College (Michigan) destroyed many records, though not all. The crisis plan used to disseminate information about the fire and its results is described and both the problems and positive results are reviewed. (MSE)

Two aspects of Suffolk's Local History Classroom Project are outlined: (1) some procedures used for the construction and use of case study and (2) possible roles for computerized banks of standardized historical data. (Author/SJL)

Outlines the advantages of digital documents for scholars and offers considerations for designing systems for storing and retrieving digital information products. Discusses conventional and electronic storage and retrieval; network costs; digital storage; search strategies; acquisition prices; and digital initiatives. (AEF)

Discusses the state of community (primary) school libraries in Papua New Guinea. Highlights include teachers' delegated library duties, training in librarianship, lack of books, acquisition problems, facilities and types of storage, classification of the collection, and unattainable standards. (AEF)

Describes the value of defunct newspaper morgues, with a focus on the E. H. Butler Library at Buffalo State University (New York), and provides the historical background of two Buffalo newspapers. Discusses challenges facing the special collections librarian: storage facilities, requests for information by patrons from all over the world,…

A computer expert describes two stand-alone, multimedia CD-ROM computer systems suitable for school and public libraries: a budget version for less than $2000 and a power version for about $3000. Recommends specific personal computer models, monitors, operating systems, processors, RAM (random access memory), hard drives, video subsystems, CD-ROM…

Discusses issues related to electronic publishing. Topics include writing; reading; production, distribution, and commerce; copyright and ownership of intellectual property; archival storage; technical obsolescence; control of content; equality of access; and cultural changes. (Author/LRW)

As costs of subscriptions to scholarly journals rise, libraries struggle to house their collections. Journal Storage (JSTOR) is building a reliable and comprehensive archive of important literature, filling the gaps in existing collections of backfiles, fostering preservation, increasing access, finding ways to reduce storage and care costs, and…

Presents an overview of concerns and problems with digital archiving, with a focus on preservation of government information. Addresses standards and costs. Discusses the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, and the digital preservation strategies of migration, emulation, and encapsulation. An appendix reviews some of the…

Provides a comparison of four database management programs commonly used in schools: AppleWorks, the DOS 3.3 and ProDOS versions of PFS, and MECC's Data Handler. Topics discussed include information storage, spelling checkers, editing functions, search strategies, graphs, printout formats, library applications, and HyperCard. (LRW)

Examines possible reasons for the slow adoption of full text primary literature online by users. Areas discussed include the lack of complete online files, competition with better known sources, isolation of full text files, and the slow adoption of online services in general. Possible future developments are discussed. (three references) (CLB)

Discusses CD-ROM with an emphasis on aspects that librarians need to know. The topics covered include the technology; installations and cost; advantages and disadvantages for libraries; products of interest to librarians; and selection issues. Other optical storage media are described and sources for further information are provided. (37…

Discusses techniques for creating computer slide shows. Topics include memory; format; color use; HyperCard and CD-ROM; font styles and sizes; graphs and graphics; the slide show option; special effects; and tips for effective presentation. (Author/AEF)

This paper addresses the problem of data management techniques for efficiently retrieving requested subsets of large data sets from mass storage devices. Describes the development of algorithms and software that facilitate the partitioning of a large data set into multiple "clusters" that reflect their expected access. (Author/JKP)