Describes the process of question referral in California's second-level reference centers where questions are referred by public librarians, and provides examples of questions and sources typical of humanities research. Topics include the varied clientele and the use of databases, reference files, library collections, organizations, special…

Discussion of cultural barriers in information systems focuses on results of a study at a large private research organization in Austria that was conducted to identify major problem areas and to develop a framework for identifying and evaluating possible solutions. User, technical, and cost factors for evaluating options are considered. (30…

Maintains how the United Nations, as the world's largest global databank, produces major statistical volumes, results of international research projects, and technical reports for the world's policymakers. Asserts that, many of the UN resources are useful to teachers. Presents an annotated listing of information centers and resources. (CFR)

Explores where the responsibility for information resources management (IRM) can lie, identifying entities which might carry IRM tasks: (1) individuals; (2) departments; (3) institutions; and (4) markets. It is argued that the IRM function should be located at the department level, and that associated departmental costs may be overshadowed by the…

Discusses three kinds of metadata--Dublin Core (DC), MARC21 (formerly USMARC), and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)--and how they are used in the Energy & Environmental Information Resources Center (EE-IR Center), a digital special library of text, numeric, and geospatial data in Lafayette, Louisiana. Includes 5 figures. (Contains 48…

Describes how the original ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) was established as a centralized information center within the Office of Education, and how it was later transformed into a decentralized national system. Discusses the roles of advances in information systems technology, interpersonal relationships, political decisions,…

Provides a set of guidelines for conducting successful community resource fairs to help students with disabilities and their family prepare for the future. A countdown of organizational activities, plus follow-up actions, is provided, and a checklist of 30 steps to use when organizing a community resource fair is included. (CR)

The challenges of bringing together information professionals from a variety of information agencies with different backgrounds, cultures, and skills are discussed in terms of their implications for the education of information professionals. (Author/JAK)

Discusses operational, organizational, and technological developments that are transforming the workplace; describes the concept of knowledge worker and the information utility model; considers how these factors provide opportunities for library administrators and other information resource management professionals to improve user services; and…

This paper highlights the value of newspaper information and the methods adopted in organizing, preserving and disseminating it. The paper dwells on the traditional ways of managing newspaper resources and the need to device a new medium of accessing the information contents of the resource. It enumerates the steps taken in conserving newspaper…

With the growth over the past 25 years in the establishment of residential environmental education (EE) centers, what factors EE center directors identify as important to the success of these centers merits discussion. Research in environmental education is still relatively new, with few continuously contributing researchers and a lack of…

This report, which covers fiscal years 1990 and 1991, is the fourth in a series summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) program, which is funded and managed by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education. Highlights of the 2 years include a…

This guide offers an overview of important areas in operating a disability-related information and referral center (I&R) and contains many design and management suggestions. The guide is written for individuals operating or designing a "grassroots" information and referral center with only a few employees but a fair number of…

This is the fifth in a series of annual reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) program, which is funded and managed by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement in the U.S. Department of Education. The eight main sections cover: (1) highlights of the year in the areas…

This study provides a detailed description of the process by which parents choose schools for their children and the process by which urban schools adjust to the necessity of convincing parents to choose them. The Parent Information Center programs in the Massachusetts communities of Boston, Cambridge, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, and Springfield…